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— — OF THE- 



Oqe jlundi'Bd and FiftietJ i[qniVeP^ar<J 

OF WILTON, N. H. 

SEPTEMBER 12, 1889. 





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THE CELEBRATION 



One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary 



SETTLEMENT OF WILTON, 

WILTON, N. H„ SEPT 12TH, 



BY CHAS, W, MARSHALL AND JOEL H, METCALF. 



NASHUA, N. H. : 

GAZETTE BOOK AND JOB PRINT. 
1889. 



INTRODUCTORY NOTE, 



In presenting this book to the public a few words of explanation 
may not be out of place. The committee in charge of the celebra- 
tion were merely a ithorizecl to make the necassary arrange meats for 
a suitable observance of the day, and the matter of prejiaring a re- 
port was not thought of at the time of their appointment. After the 
day was past the advisabilitj' of having such a report occurred to 
them, and learning that Mr. Mai'shall and Mr Metcalf had a full set 
of notes on the day's proceedings, they employed those gentlemen 
to prepare a report. The committee feel, however, that the people 
of Wilton will concur in this action, as it will be readily seen that 
such an event is of so unusual a character as to be of great impor- 
ance in the history of the town. 



^^ V /J i 



r 



WILTON'S SESQUICENTENiNmi. 



On Thursday, September 12th, 1889, Wilton completed the one 
hundred and fiftieth year of its existence. Such an event the good 
people of the town could hardly allow to pass unnoticed. In the 
March town meeting- the subject of a celebration was discussed, 
but while the prevailing sentiment seemed to be in favor of a cel- 
ebration, no approjiriation was made for the purpose. The matter 
was finally left with a committee of three, who were empowered to 
act according to their discretion, and, if a celebration were thought 
advisable, they were to make the necessary arrangements and to 
take executive charge of affairs. The committee, as originally 
announced by the moderator, George E Bales, consisted of Moses 
Clark, chairman, Harvey A. Whiting, George L. Dascomb. The 
vacancy caused by the death of Mr. D.iscomb was afterward filled 
by the selection of Andrew N. Birton. These gentlemen made 
active preparations to celebi-ate the day in a fitting, patriotic man- 
ner. Tlie sons and daughters of Wilton from far and near were 
urged to be present, and the invitation met with a hearty response. 
When the day arrived the dull, heavy appearance of the sky was 
not calculated to inspire one with new enthusiasm, but in spite of 
the threatening weather of the faw days previous, and notwithstand 
ing the fact that the signal service — an unknown institution at the 
time of the Centennial — displayed the rain flag, the ardor of the 
citizens was not in the least quenched. The rain fortunately kept 
off during the entire day, with the exception of a slight shower in 
the morning, and the day proved much better than the morning 
gave promise of. Promptly at 9 o'clock the ringing of bells from 
church and school-house announced that the "festal day had come," 
and soon after the procession, which marked the formal opening of 
the day's exercises, was formed with the head of the column in 
Railroad Square in the following order : — 



1. Chief Marshal, G. W. Wallace. 

2. AIDS : 

D. E. HEEiacK, A. C. Young, 
C. A. Burns, F. E. Proctor. 

E. W. Hesselton, David Whiting, 2il. 
These gentlemen, who were all mounted, were dressed in black 

Prince Albert suits, soft felt hats and red sashes. 

3. Police on foot and uniformed, M. J. Herlihy, chief, James 
Shea and Michael Kennedy. 

4. Drum Major. Thos. Cooley. 

5. Wilton Cornet Band. 26 pieces. A.. P. Brigham, leader. 

(). Abiel A. Livermore Post, G. A, R. with 30 men, including a 
delegation from Harvey Holt Post of Lyndeborough. H L. Emer- 
son commanding. 

7. D.ivid E. Proctor Cami) Sons of Veterans, 20 men. Captain 
E. W. Lawrence, displaying a l)eautiful new flag, a gift from Maj. 
D. E. Proctor. This flag marks an epoch in our national history, 
being the first one in Wilton to display the forty-two stars. 

8. Fire company, 40 men, C. B. Smith, foreman. The company 
was neatly uniformed with dark blue caps and blue blouses trinuned 
with red. The caps bore on the front the name of the company — 
Excelsior. 

9. Five engine Excelsior drawn by John Merrill's four horses. 

10. Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Barnes on saddle and i^illion in the 
costume of one hundred and fifty years ago. They attracted much 
attention along the line of march and admirably carried out their 
part. 

11. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Putnam in antique garments, riding in 
a veritable "one horse chaise" of sixty years ago. The old-fashioned 
"calash" that Mrs. Putnam wore was over fifty j-ears old. The 
chaise M'as particularly interesting from the fact that it has passed 
through four generations of Putnams, and because it was kept on 
the first settled farm in town. This also jjroved quite a feature of 
the parade and gave an excellent representation of the ''good old 
times." 

12. Mr. Geo. and Miss Fanny Whiting in a handsome modern 
buggy. 

13. Mr. Geo. A. Newell and ladies in a modern carriage. These 



two illustrating improvements in the style of pleasure carnages, were 
all the more stiikiug by contrast with the chaise just mentioned. 

14. A couple, of the Kevolutionary period, Mr. D. S. Draper 
dre^iSad as an officer, and Mr. David Davis as his wife. 

15. "Our National Flower" — Golden Rod. Four young ladies, 
Miss Stella Beard, Miss Maude Calder, Miss Lillian Calder, Miss 
Grace Blanchard, charmingly aitired in white and carrying banches 
of golden rod. The horse and carriage were set off with the same 
beaaiii... flower, while some sprigs of it adorned the coat of the 
driver, Mr. Albert Beard. The idea was quite unique and very 
we^i euiiiea uut. 

16. Hon. C. H. Burns' family carriage with three young ladies. 
Miss Blanche Burns, Miss Elva Hall, Miss Gertrude Hatcher, car 
rying corn stalks, the emblem of plenty. Mr. Burns' grandson, 
Robbie, 2^ years old was an active member of the part}' The 
driver was Mr. Ben. E. Burns. 

17. Miss Bessie Putnam on a pony. 

18. Mr. Levi Putnam's family carriage, containing besides Mr. 
Putnam, J. H. Putnam, Mrs. Stevens, Miss M. Clough, Miss Clara 
Blood. 

19. J. W. Howard, Nashua, buggy. 

20. Clark Campbell, buggy. 

21. French Village school in a team handsomely trimmed with 
oak boughs. 

22. County Farm school in a barge drawn by four horses. 

23. Low and Rewell representing the "Webster Elastic Spring." 

24. Team illustrating the mop business of Low and Rewell. 
Twelve boys in knit uniforms and armed with mops made a novel 

•escort. 

25. Colony Bros — Dray load of packing cases with a pyramid 
of colored and white flannels, the whole surmounted by a large 
sheep. 

26. D. Whiting & Sons, grain and feed, in charge of D. E. 
Stiles. 

27. D. Whiting and Sons, milk and butter. 

28. Bales and Putnam, 'The Village Smith," representing their 
line of business with two forces and anvils. Mr. Bales and as- 



sistaiit, "\Y. C, Jones, were making ox shoes and Mr. Putnam Avas 
fittiiG" lioise shoes. The business was established in 1812 bv Mr. 
Bak's' father. Home of the ox shoes were thio.vn to the crowd as 
fast as they were made, and weie l.ighly vak;ed as mcmentoe.s of 
the occasion. 

29. Proctor Bros. & Co., the cooper's trade, C. A. Buitt and A. 
E Swallow, making half barrels and kits. 

30. The Noithern Express with a load of merchandise marked 
"Going by Northern Eci)ress." 

3j. 8. N. Center, 2d, with a load of groceries, grain and hard- 
wai e 

32. Levi Putnam, lead of twei.tyfive trunks. A row of yellow 
inimi kins around the wagon showed that Mr. Putnam does some 
farming as well as manufacturing. 

33. W. N. Pattv,'rson & Son. giind-stcnes and &aw-horses. 

34. D. E. Proctor, g: ain. 

35. A. C. Young, chy goods, boots and fancy goods. Wngon 
very tastily gotten up in the ft rm of a l)ooth in which the goods 
weie very atti actively displayed. The roof supported an i umea.se 
rubber boot — large enough for Gulliver himself — fiom the top of 
which appeared a beautiful wax doll. 

36. D. E. Proctor, groceries and hardware. 

37. AVhiting's Farm team containing black ca^f and pig, drawn 
by two horses, one of which was placarded, "'Bill, 26 years old. " 

38. M. P. Slanton, groceries. 

39. A, O. Barker, gioceries. 

40. Dr. McGown, dentistry illustrated by a living victim, Scott 
E. For-ter. Gas was adn^ii.istered on the line of march, a tooth 
pulled and another prepared for filling. A huge molar saspend'd 
over the seat added to the rea'is n of the performan-e. 

41. F. M. Lund, ooois aid sli03S A t-am littsd uji as a room, 
with shelves, on which was disp'ayed a full li le of his goods Mr. 
Lund and his daughter Bertha, th3 latter of whom repr-!-;e.it 'd th3 
di tant pasr, were tryirg to sail tlieir goods t ) a lady of th ■ present. 
Miss liattie Fosler, A polytype machine an 1 a cobbl -r's bjn.-li told 
that Mr. Lund also makes and repa'rs shoes. 

42. E. B. Center, A\hit i Sewing Machiae. The driver, Mr. C. 
P. Delauy, was diessL^d completely in white. 



43. D. Cragin, ineasares. 

44. S II. D iubar, meat aid provisions. 

45. Liveruiore Farm, lumber and firm products. Two or three 
s;nall pine ti-ees together with tha fruit a.id vegetables gave quite a 
rural appearance to the display. 

46. H. P. Ring, "Town Agency," representing printing and King's 
Ambrosia Co. 

47. Flint & Gray, wheelwiights and carriage makers. 

48. Citizens in private carriages. 

The dogs of A. C. Young and M. P. Stanton, employed as an ad- 
vertising medium on this occasion, ought not to be omitted. jMr. 
Young's tlog woie a white blanket with a redborder advertising dry 
goods, while Mr. Stanton's wore a blanket variousl}- decorated with 
"Old Judge" Cigarette labels. 

The line of march was down Main St., to "Russell; up Rus^sell St., 
to Arai)le, by the Town Hall to Forest; up Forest St., to Levi Put- 
nam's mill, counter marching by Warren Putnam's to Forest St., by 
Whiting's mill up Highland St., counter nuirching in front of the 
Gregg Mansion returning by Colony's mill to the Hotel, where ..le 
procession was reviewed by President of the Day, I Ion. C. H. Barns, 
Executive Committee Moses Clark, Ilarvey A. Whiting, Andrew N. 
Burton, Selectmen James Sheldon, John B. Hickey, R. M. Moore. 

Tcwn Treasurer, Geo. E. Bales, invited guests, Ephraim Brown 
of Lowell, orator of the day. Dr. A. A. Livermore of Meadville, 
Penn., Rev. I. S. Lincoln. 

The streets were thronged with people and carriages, and cirefal 
estimates place the number of people on the streets at about 2,003. 
There were the youth and the gray-haired man, the vigorous and 
the feeble, the citizen and the stranger. The wanderer to other 
towns had returned to show his loyalty to his native place and re- 
joiced to share in the jubilee if only by his presence. Old and j'oun^ 
alike seemed to catch the inspiration of the hour and the whole town 
took on a holiday attire. The decorations along the route were in 
good taste and some were quite elaborate. Bunting was used for 
the most part, but Chinese lanterns, colored paj^er and flowers helped 
to give variety to the general effect. Flags were displayed from the 
residences of D. E. Pioctor, John Merrill, A. J.Putnam, Mrs. Miry 
E. Blanchard, C. H. White, Isaac Brothers, S. H. Dunbar, Wncu 



8 

Stearns, J. LangJell David TMiiting, Harvey A. 'Wliiting, A. Beard. 
A. A. Kamsev, Dr. Hatch, Warren P. Patnam, Geo. K. Hartwell, C. 
A. Burns, C. H. Burns, E. Peikins. AVni. H. Hopkins, W. W. Curtis. 
large flags were flung across the street fioni the Everett House, D. 
E. Proctor's store, and from the residences of M. Rhiney and D. Ma- 
honey. The windows of Mrs. Fleeinan's house were decorated with 
designs in colored pa^^er. Major D. E. Proctor also had, in addition 
to his display of bunting, a lot of C hinese lanterns very prettily ar- 
ranged. A string of variously colored Chinese lant.erns extended 
from H. A. Whiting's to A. A. Eamsey's on one f-ide of the street, and 
a corresponding stiing from David Whiting's to A. Board's on the 
other side. Flowers were shown at A. J. Putnam's, J. Langlell's, 
Albert Beard's. Wm. Evans had a web of Colony Bros, red flannel 
flun"- over the trees near his residence, niakirg a decidedly novel 
decoration. 

The exercises in the hall began at 10.30. but long before that time 
people had filled the hall, and although chairs and extra settees were 
added, every available place, either to sit or stand, was taken and a 
large number of people were unable to get in'uo the biiildiiig. T le 
hall was tastefully decorated under the supervi-iio:i of Mr. and Mrs. 
A. Beard, assisted by Miss Stella Beard and the Miss.^s Calder of 
Boston. As one entered the auditorium the decorations on ind 
about the platform first arrested his attention. Streamers of red, 
white and blue bunting, radiating from the chandelier as a center 
and extending to the top and sides of the stage, formed a very pret- 
ty canopy for the speakers. Susjjended from the chandelier and 
near the center of the stage by cords of golden rod were the dates 
"1739-1889 ' in large figures beautifully wrought in colored asters 
on a dark background. This made a center-piece at once striking 
and in perfect harmony with the rest of the decoiations. On either 
side of the platform were tw o flags set off by the rich green of laurel 
foliage which reached from floor to gas jets. Laurel also ornament- 
ed the curve of the stage and concealed the gas jet in front. At 
either end was a large urn filled with beautiful hydrangeas, wdiile 
mammoth bunches of dwarf sunflowers relieved the sides of the 
speaker's desk. Boipiets and baskets of flowers, sent in by ladies in 
the town, stood uj on the piano and completed the decorations of the 
stage. Gay colored bunting ran in briLi.iht festoons from the center 



to the sides of the gallery, while the space around the clock and all 
the gas fixtures were elaborately trimmed with flags. The hydran- 
geas and sunflowers used in the stage decorations were kindl}- con- 
tributed by Mr. A. P. Calder of Boston. 

The programme of the morning's exercises was as follows : 

1. Music b}' the Band, "Auld Lang Syne." 

2. Words of Welcome, Moses Clark, Chairman of Committee. 

3. Invocation, Rev. T. O. Harlow. 

4. Chorus, Festival Hymn, Dudley Buck. 

5. .Scripture reading, "Irp*. .o qi?'!' '^'^^^ H. Metcalf, 

6. Prayer, Rev. A. A. Livermore, D. D. 

7. Address of President, Hon. C. H. Burns. 

8. Chorus, "Triumphal ]March,'" Cortes. 

9. Oration, Ephraim Brown, Lowell, Mass. 

10. Poem, Dr. Francis E. Abbott, Cambridge, Mass.' 

11. Grand Hallelujah Chorus, Handel. 

12. Benediction, Rev. I. S. Lincoln. 



WORDS OF WELCOME BY MOSES CLARK, 

Chairman of Committee of Akr.\ngement. 

Ladies and Gentlemen : What calls the young people in such 
large numbers here to-day? What is the reason so many middle- 
aged people are here, and for what purpose have gathered so 
many of our aged people, who have seen and show the toil of many 
years? It is because they all have a deep interest in celebrating 
the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the good old town of 
Wilton. For the committee, and then in behalf of the people of the 
town, we welcome the sons and daughters of Wilton, who have gone 
elsewhere to find homes, but have returned to take a part with us 
today in this celebration. We welcome those who have come from 
adjoining towns: we welcome everybody who has come here to the 
festivities of this occasion. I myself cannot comprehend one hun- 
dred and fifty years, but I can go back fifty years and recall some 
thing that has been done here in Wilton since many of you left your 



10 

native place. "When I came here, foitj'-tbree years ago, the fifth 
day of October, 1846, there were only twenty six buildings, all told, 
here in this village, and some of these were burned, and some were 
taken down and better ones have taken their places as you will see 
to-day. To-day there are over two hundred and many of them are 
equal to any in the State. In the past fifty years we have not only 
had prosperity but we have had adversity. Our propeity has been 
destroyed by fire and flood. Tweiaty years ago a flood took some 
thirty thousand dollars in bridges, damage of highways. A. factory 
and several smaller buildings were carried down the river and it 
looked at one time as though more must soon follow. When I came 
here there was not a factory in the town. Soon after one was built 
on the site were one was burnt before I came here, biit this one was 
burned in March, 1872, but to day there is a beautiful flannel mill 
upon the same spot, giving employment to many peoj^le. We have 
had fires that have several times burned some portion of our village, 
but each time it has been rebuilt. The Whitney house, on the site of 
which was an old red house that many of you will remember, was 
destroyed by Are, and now on the same spot is this Town House, 
gi'and in architecture, lich in the material in which it is built, com- 
fortable and convenient, good in workmanship, and is here in this 
thriving village of Wilton, the gi'andest among the grand. A^'e 
trust that the memory of this day will long be cherished and be ever 
attended with pleasing and profitable recollections. I now have the 
honor to name the following gentlemen who will take part in ihe ex- 
ercises of the day: 

For President, Hon. Charles H. Burns. 

For Vice-Presidents, David Whiting, William Emeison, Sewell 
Putnam, E. G. Woodman, Samuel N. Center, William Sheldon, Abiel 
Abbot, William Abbot, Harvey F. Frye, Edward II. Spaulding. Sam- 
uel Burton, Jacob Putnam. George Buss, John D. Wilson. Samuel 
L. Kimball, John McGi'egor, Henry Gray, Joel Heselton. Warren 
Stiles, L. W. Perha-n, George E. Bales. F. M. Pevey. 

For Secretary Andrew N. Burton. 



1] 

Invocation by Rev. T. O.Harlow. 

O Lord, om- God, King of Kings, who from Thy throne beholdeth 
all the dwellers upon the earth, who ruleth with justice and wisdom, 
we thank Thee for all the privileges of this celebration. 

We pray Thee that we may have Thy blessing and benediction to 
rest upon us, and that we may be directed by Thy wisdom and coun- 
sel in conducting these exercises, and at last present ourselves a 
living sacrifice unto Thee. Which we ask in the name of Jesus 
Christ, Thy Sou, our Saviour. Amen. 



Prayer By A. A. Livermore. 

Eternal God, our Heavenly Father, who liveth and reigneth for- 
ever, while the generations of men arise and jjass away. We in- 
voke Thy blessing on this celebration of a century and a half of the 
history of our beloved town. Thou has been our God and the God 
of our fathers. Thou did'st plant them here, and establish them 
and cause them to multiply and prosper. Thy blessings have been 
more than we can number and Thy mercy endureth forevei . We 
bless Thee for the institutions of freedom, education and religion, which 
through Thy good Providence Thou did'st here establish ujion the 
immovable foundations of justice, truth and love. We thank Thee for 
all the good work done here, for the patient toil of the husbandman, 
the thrift of the housewife, the skill of the artisan, the entoipiise of 
the manufacturer, the traffic of the merchant: for the preached word 
and the motive of the school. We bless Thee for the hearth and 
home and the sweet ties of parents and children, husbands and 
wives, brothers and sister,-', lovers and friends. We thank Thee 
that Thou has't given us in all these years the happiness of living 
in the beautiful abodes of civilized and Christian life. In peace and 
in war Thou lias't led our steps and the steps of our fathers and 
brought freedom out of bondage, and light out of darkness, and 
joy out of grief, and overruled all things for the good of Thy 
children. And standing on the blessed experience of the past, we 
would connnit our ways unto Thee for the futirre in well doing as 
unto a faithful Creator and Friend. Bless our town our State, and 



12 

our countrv iuid all onr nia<>istiates and citizens. May we make 
good the blessed plan of our statesmen and heroes for a Christian 
commonwealth. We reconsecrate ourselves and our town to thy 
service, \vhi('h is perfect liberty and perfect liiippiness Preserve 
the health and lives of our people. "We renew our vows of peni- 
tence and obidence. Forgive our sins. Have compassion on our in- 
firmities. May this day's remembrance of Thy mercies of the past 
quicken us to new thankfulness and fidelity. We commit ourselves 
into Thy arms of everlasting love. May grace, mercy and peace be 
multiplied unto all from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 



Address By C. H. Burns. 

Fellow Citizkns: — Fifty years ago Wilton completed a century of 
its life. It was deemed by its good citizens an event of such conse- 
quence as to entitle it to formal notice : and a day was set apart for 
that purpose, and devoted to speeches, music, songs, and general 
rejoicing. I hold in my hand a published account of that per- 
formance, and in it I find the graphic description of the day and its 
experiences : 

'•The morning of the celebration dawned auspiciously, and was 
ushered in with the ringing of the bells and a salute of one hundred 
guns. The sun rose upon a cloudless sky. The day was cahn, 
clear and mild. Everything conspired to render it one of the finest 
mornings of early autumn ; and njany were those who rose betimes 
and hailed it with joyful anticipations. Emigrants to other towns 
and to the distant cities and villages of other states had come back 
to revisit once more the scenes of their youth, and to celebrate with 
friends and former associates this grand jubilee of their native town. 
And now the sons and daughters of Wilton, resident and emigrant, 
together with numerous guests from abroad, leaving behind them 
for a while the cares of professional life, the din of machinery, the 
business of the farm, the workshop, or the counting room, mi^ht be 
seen thronging the roads that ascend from all quarters of the com- 



mon. As they approach, the first thing- to catch all eyes was a 
fancy flag, hi its seiui-circular wreath of evergreen, hovering in the 
ail- midway between the two churches on the hill, and appearing to 
have no support, till on arriving near it, the cord which upheld it 
was seen stretched from belfry to belfry, and on the flag itself ap- 
peared the inscription, "1739" and "1839," with other devices be- 
tween them. The national banner had been raised in the air, and 
its stripes and stars, borne on the now rising breeze, were floating 
gaily over the now spacious pavilion, erected on the border of a 
pleasant field, a few rods east of the old meeting-house. Around the 
meeting-house stood handsome spruce trees, the growth ol the 
niglit: while within it was beautifully ornamented Avith verdant 
boughs and wreaths, ami a large chandelier of eve] green. The com- 
mon was at an early hour alive with people moving to and fro, or 
collecting in groups : and the fine appearance of the Miller 
Guards, a com] any of volunteers, organized in the town a short 
time previous, under the c-ommand of Col. Samuel King, with the 
clieeriug music of the baud attending them, gave increased anima- 
ti(m to the i^cene. Ami throughout the multitudes there assembled 
tlie cordial greetings of old acquaintances, the hearty shaking of 
hands, the glad voices and speaking countenances all testified to 
the ovei-flowing pleasure and good feeling which reigned on the oc- 
casion." 

The officers of the day were : President, Ezra Abbott ; vice-presi- 
dents, Abraham Whittemore, Jonathan Liverinore, Jonathan Burton, 
Timothy Psrkhurst, Timothy Abbot, Daniel Batchelder, Oliver Whit 
ing ; Chief Marshal, Jonathan Parkhurst ; /Assistant Marshals, 
Samuel Kink, David Wilson, Hermon Pettengill, Calvin Gray, Oliver 
Barrett, jMoses Spaulding : toast masters, Eliphalet Putnam, Zebe- 
diah Abbot. 

This is a list of splendid men. They are all gone. Not one of the 
officers who were active on that occasion still lives ; but they have 
left a record that is as imperishable as the stars. They were repre- 
sentative men. Although not the founders, they were the pro- 
moters and builders of a staunch and noble town, whose influence 
has reached every part of our great country. They were men who 
loved their God, their home, their town and their country. They 



14 

worked not only tor themselves but tliPir fellowmen. Tliey were 
}iot drunkards, uor loafers, but men of marked sobiiety and un- 
flaggin','' industry. They did not plot against the cammon weal, but 
they wrought by day and by night for the ])erfection of law and the 
advancement of society. They did not have great learning or bril- 
liant abilities, but they were wise observers, very intelligent, and 
full of native worth, and an integrity that was as immovable as the 
granite hills on which they lived. They were possessed of all the 
characteristics which are essential in establishing a successful com- 
monwealth. 

Fifty years have come and gone since the centeiniial of Wilton 
occurred ; and it is without doubt true that they have been the 
most remarkable years in many respects that the world has ever 
known. In no other epoch of history has the brain of man been so 
2)roductive of discoveries and inventions which are useful to 
mankind. Chemical, mechanical, physical and economic truths have 
been discovered and utilized which have displaced and re ;idj listed 
almost all the processes of manly industries, afltecting agiiculture, 
manufactures, transportation, exchanges, the sciences and the arts, 
the finances, the education and learning, the moral and social con- 
dition of the human race. 

In the old world during this time, and since Victoria ascended the 
throne of England, which was just before the centennial of Wilton, 
kings and queens have lost their thrones, and more than half the 
powers of Eiirope have been overturned and remodelled. In our 
own country we have made a growth whi(!h is the marvel of Christ- 
endom. AVe had a population in 1839 of about fifteen millions of 
people, now we have more Ihan sixty millions Then the Pacific 
coast was an almost unknown land, with scattered inhabitants and 
a shore covered with snow and sand and rock. " where formerly the 
sluggish Mexican kept his ranch and the red Indian hunted the buf- 
falo,'' now it is dotted all over with thriving cities and villages in 
which are to be found all the equipments of modern civilization ; and 
this vast region is to day connected by the ii'on rails with every 
other part of the United States. Then Arkansas and Missouri were 
extreme frontier states; Alichigan almost unknown. Chicago was 
a speck of a town not then chiistened, bu; called Fort Dearborn ; 



15 

now it has almost as many inhabitants as London then had ; its 
name is a power in this land ; its beauties and marvels are the wonder- 
ment of all who behold them. The •>-rowtli of this raaoic city is 
typical of the whole nation. 

When our fathers celebrated fifty years ago they recurred to the 
storms and trials of the revolution and the brave work of their 
fathers at Bunker Hill, Bennington and Yorktown for evidences of 
their prowess and patriotism in war, but the valor of the men of 
'76 is almost dwarfed by that of their sons shown on hundreds of 
battlefields eighty five years later. The civil war, which stands mid- 
way between 1839 and 1889, tested the patriotism not only of the 
men of the nation but of Wilton, whose roll of honor is proof that 
here dwells a people thoroughly imbued with love of home and 
country, and a disposition and ability to defend lioth at all hazards 
and at any cost. During the period, slavery, which was a foul blot 
upon our governnjent half a century ago. has been overthrown, and 
the nation is redeemed from the clutch of its deadliest foes. 

In our town we can show c<mnuendable progress. This beauti- 
ful town hall and the charming village wherein it stands are almost 
entirely the product of these fifty years. The locomotive that 
whistles through this valley morning, noon and night had not then 
even threatened to thiill our mountains with its echoes. In a re- 
view of Wilton's centennial, written in IS-IO, it has triumphantly 
boasted "that the old, ill-formed, inconvenient houses, with their 
large chimneys were in many instances gone, and in their place we 
had the neat and convenient dwelling, warmed by a cast iron fire- 
place or its more economical stove."' Hot air and steam furnaces 
were then unknown, and the modern dwelling, such as now crown 
"the noble hills of Wilton," with their manifold conveniences, had 
not yet appeared. The era of tallow and sperm oil, which succeeded 
the pine knot, has been followed with petroleum, gas and electricity. 
We ride by steam and talk by ware, thus almost annihilating time 
and distance. This is an epitome of national and town progress 
during these eventful years. 

For five decades, since our fathers thus paused and with honest 
pride registered their splendid progress and condition, has the 
great work of town building and citizen making here o'one on. Its 



16 

sons have traversed all climes, and the principle- tauoht them by 
their fathers permeate and adorn civilization in most, if not all. the 
great centres of our country. Again we pause to celebrate in a 
modest way another suggestive event. We do not stand as is said 
in the matchless oration of I\[r. Peabody delivered here fifty j^ears 
ago, " on the honzou that divides two centuries,'' but we are mid- 
way between the second century of our town lifeandaneiafiuitfulof 
the most astounding discoveries and developments. 

This is the occasion. Wilton welcomes her sons and daughters 
to-day with all the warmth of a mother's greeting. She only asks 
her children to solemnly rememlier that glorious and pri(ie-ins])iring 
as is an lumored ancestry, "'it is ])etter to transmit than to inherit a 
tjood name." 



The pre;-:ident in introducing the orator of the day referred to the 
old custom of placing the churches and school houses oh the high- 
est points of land, and said : " Fifty years ago a school house stood 
on Bales' Hill. There a boy, a native of the town, attended and 
afterwards taught it. The school master has since been abroad 
in our hmd and has made such a record for himself and Wilton that 
he has been called upon to deliver the address on this occasion. 
Allow me to present Ei^hraim Brown of Lowell." 



ADDRESS 

BY EPHRAIM BROWN 



Mr. President, 

People, of Wilton, 

My Native Tovm : 

As a faniil}' widely scattered many years, comes home to the 
golden wedding of its heads, so we have assembled at this golden 
period of fifty years in the history of Wilton to celebrate this event 
and enjoy once more the kind interchanges of kinship and the gen- 
erous congratulations of friendship. 

I come before you this hour, not only for myself, but as a repre- 
sentative of sons and daughters of Wilton, who would be here if 
they could, and whom we should delight to see. I come as a son 
who loves the old home and all its jieople, and joined in sentiment 
with those I represent, I extend to you all our hearty salutations 
and the right hand of fellowship. I come to fathers, mothers, 
brothers, sisters, old friends and acquaintances, and feel the thrill 
of new communions awakened in our breasts, and laying aside state- 
liness and formality let us spend this hour and the day in free and 
easy discourse upon what was and is and is to come. Let there be 
free flow of enthusiasm, for golden weddings come but once in a 
life time and childi'en again gathered in the old mansion are allowed 
to talk fast, loud and long, and the old home circle to respond with 



18 

welcome, cheer unci good will. Even a little fullness in hmgiiage 
and demonstiativeness in manner may l)e excusable unless it be- 
comes absurd. 

There ai'e here to-day two of the school masters of my childhood, 
sons of Wilton, the able authors of yoiu- new and most interesting- 
history, their eye not dim, nor their mental force abated ; one for 
many years the beloved pastor over God's chosen people, and for 
more than twenty -five years the president of a high and distinguished 
theological seminary, and whose scholai ly attainments and christain 
character endear him to Wilton people and all the country, whose 
right and whose privilege and duty it was to present to you the ad- 
dress of this occasion, and for years I have expected no other. The 
place in which I stand to-day is not of my seeking and I consented 
to it only upon the assurance that lie had declined it. I am most 
keenly sensible of the high honor thus conferred, and ask that in 
your kind indulgence you will overlook the short comings of the 
hour, remembering that I lived in Wilton only twenty-six years of 
infancy and youth and have been absent forty-four years, during 
which time my visits have only been occasional and brief. You all 
therefore can easily comprehend how much I regret my own want of 
intimate knowledge of the inner life of the town and its people and 
how that want has beset my every step in preparation for this hour. 
I can only say with the aspostle, '' Silver and gold have I none, but 
such as I have give I unto thee." 

Mr. President : Fifty years ago Wilton became one hundred 
years old, and that centennial day was celebrated as a memorable 
period in its existence. An account of that celebration was pid)- 
lished in a large pamplet soon after, including the eloquent and 
scholarly oration by that eminent divine, Rev. Dr. EjDhraim Pea- 
body of New Bedford, Mas?., one of Wilton's sons, intimately 
connected with leading familie.s of the town, and born where Gilman 
R. Mansur now resides. Brief reference is made to this celebra- 



U) 

tion on pages 214-16, in the New History issie 1 in 1888. This 
celebration was the second of its kind in Hillsborongh County. 
Holhs celebr.itiou wa.s in 1830, nine years bafore the one in Wilton. 
The doings of that Wilton day have been so completely set forth in 
the pamphlet, and the subsequent history of the town so fully pub- 
lished in the new history, other historical mateiial from which to 
select for this OL^casiou is meagre in historical importance. Your 
e'Lcellent historians seem to have gathered it all and there has been 
no Boaz to say "Glean among the Sheaves.*' 

The tir-it half of the second century of the town has rolled around 
and we, its people, are met here to-day to satisfy the impulses of 
our own hearts, and to follow the precept and example of the 
fathers. We are standing in the middle period of Wilton's second 
century, and like travellers midway on a mountain's side we pause to 
survey our ascent, admire the beautiful scenes through which we have 
come, and to look (niward and upward to the summit with thanks- 
giving, courage, hope and joy. Great changes have taken place during 
the fifty years just elapsed. That celebrati<ni was at the centre of the 
town, in tlie meeting house on the hill. That meeting house was 
the town house, and all the large assemblages of the people were 
there. The principal political, municipal and elective gatherings 
were within is walls. The Unitarian society occupied it for its place 
of worship. Its pulpit, altar and pews represented dear and sacred 
interests of the people, and although other church buildings had 
arisen the old meeting house, erected by the fathers, had an air of 
antiquity and sacredness that commanded the respect and reverence 
of the people. But to day the business, political and part of the 
religious interests of the town have floated down to this valley, and 
we are met in this beautiful temple, largely the generous gift with 
its appointments of sons and daughters of Wilton soil and her 
adopted citizens. This appropriate and beautiful Town Hall speaks 
in emphatic words. It tells us that old things have passed away, 



20 

that for "W^ilton all things have become new. It tells us of enter- 
prise, foresight and generosity. It suggests a future for the town of 
greater duration and magnitude than the one hundred and fifty 
years now elapsed. The chui'ches, school-houses, factories, depots, 
mills, ware-houses, store houses and dwellings that stand mound it 
ensure to this happy valley and all the region, whose business and 
connnerce How into it, an activity and prosperity that were unknown 
to our forefathers. The periphery has become the centre and the 
town revolves around the' lower Souhegau Valley. 

What are the active agencies that have brought around these 
changes of the last fifty years? 

Firat. The location and conformation of the town, its geogra})hy and 
topography. Situation and opportunity are two important elements 
in any progress. The situation of Wilton in the geography of the 
State is most fortunate. It is in the way of the great highway be- 
low, to the gaps, notches and passes in the mountains above. This 
passage of the Souhegan river out of the town is at the lowest level 
of any land in Wilton. Here its waters attain their greatest volume 
and velocity. Every other point on its Eastern line is precepitous 
and steep, rising to an elevation of several hundred feet. This pass 
of the Souhegan is the gateway of the town on the East and the 
highway for the transit of travel and commerce, both above and be- 
low. Commerce always seeks and always finds the best avenues for 
transportation, and as no other similar valley is on Wilton's Eastern 
border there never will be a rival route, and East Wilton Village 
will always be on the main line of travel, threaded by the liver. It 
is fortunate that this pass is midway between the north and south 
lines of the town. The waters of the region around and above unit 
ing in this valle}' flow over the beds of your beautiful streams and 
furnish freshness, fertility and power. The lailroad and highways 
are thronged, and the enter])rises carried on here lead on to enlarged 
development. 



21 

Second. Another element is the enterprise of Wilton people, both 
native born and adopted. Opportunities lie all around, undeveloped, 
because not discovered. People walk over mines of gold, all un- 
conscious of their nearness and accessibility. The resources of a 
region lie open, have been exposed to human view for years and yet not 
seen, when by and by some ^lenetrating, forcible, plucky man makes a 
movement and opens the way for unexpec;ted develojimeut of all the 
region. It matters not that his first impulse is ])ersonal benefit. Per- 
sonal advancement is creditable. Some people call it selfishness. 
It is no more selfishness than that which moves a farmer to 
till his soil or a merchant to sell his gi>ods. Personal benefit moves 
both. Every one is entitled to the benefit of his entojrprise and 
foresight. If Mr. Blank produces a method heretofore unknown or 
takes u]) a line of business that no one before him discovered, by 
which he becomes rich; and all the region sells him its products, be- 
cause he pays more and uses better than any other one, Mr. Blank be- 
comes a public benefactor, even if his prime motive is personal bene- 
fit only. Mr. Blank is no more supposed to live for the people than 
the people to live for Mr. Blank. Their relations are mutual, and 
their rights in law and equity are equal, .\dvance business men, 
inventors, disi-overers are a great advantage to the community at 
large. They open and conduct new^ enterprises to the benefit of all 
the people. 

The oldest and one of the most notable in Wilton was the dis- 
covery which produced starch from potatoes in commercial quanti- 
ties, by Ezra and Samuel Abbott in 1811, 78 years ago. when their 
first building was erected. One of the most emphatic illustrations of 
modern times by men Wilton born, is that of David Whiting & 
Sons. What they have done and what they are now doing is before 
your eyes. It is also fully set forth in your new history. Other 
men, native born and adopted are doing large and appropriate work 
worthy of all commendation. Compare Wilton with towns that 



22 

liave few facilities an^I few men. A. glance is suffioient to show your 
great advantages and I have no time to enlarge. 

There must be stimulus to every enterprise. The most potential 
stimuli are the jierception of a want, the example and success of 
other men and personal benefit. Dift'eient motives move different 
men in unequal degree. One man is most moved to invention and 
discovery by the riches he hopes to win, another by love of discovery 
and construction, another by the credit and renown of success, another 
to give development to ingenuity and to another the faculty i.> intui- 
tive and he cannot I'efrain. Such a man has great delight in new 
fields. There is an impulse that carries him onward and he takes 
pleasure in new sensations. To unravel a diflRcult. unsolved prob- 
lem in nature or art is to him a tin-ill of delight. Sensations tingle 
to the most distant nerves in his system. When all these motives 
combine in one man and he moves in a new field of undiscovered 
possibilities, coupled with discretion, ability and persistency, great 
riches, great renown and largf benefit to mankind are the result. 
Thomas A . Edison, still a young man, is a most striking example of the 
present day. His fortune is said to be $12,000,000. and Italy made 
him a Count last month. The same may be said of Alexander 
Graham Bell and might have been said of Prof. F. B. Morse. Fifty 
years ago the dimly perceived field was agriculture. Now the illum- 
inated field is electricity. And these exam})les are but pebbles 
gathered on the hither shore of infinite possibilities in invention. 
There are more in the future than have yet been developed. A great 
change has come over the public estimate of inventive men. Fifty 
years ago it was common to call inventors and patentees visiona.y 
men of little or no account and patents valueless and unworthy of 
notice. It was customary to laugh and sneer at patents then. 
Patentees laugh now. It did not occur to the public that men nnist 
see before they could do. The want must be peiceived, the method 
of supply discovered and the result produced by inventive men 



before the public realized that such a want existed or could be 
remedied. But now the American public is quick to see and hearty 
to appreciate, in striking contrast to 50 or 100 years ago. 

The liistory of John Abbot's inventions affords great interest and 
instruction. He invented the plan and process of making hand coal 
shovels, millions of which are in use to-day. There was a fortune in 
it, but he did not obtain it. Also a new style of paving blocks, used 
in vast quantities now. The new history mentions his motor and 
his factory at West Wilton for making farmers' hoes. A. long chap- 
ter would be needed to tell all he did. The experiments of Ephraim 
Brown, my father, on threshing machines, in which he j^roduced the 
identical conception of the machines of the present day, and missed 
only for want of more jDOwer to drive than one horse could furnish, 
thus losing to Willon the credit of one of the most remarkable in 
ventions of modern times, that in its present form and perfection 
threshes, cleans and })uts in bags 2000 bushels of grain in one day with 
a single machine and more than 1,000.000.000 bushels in a year, 
would require another chapter. Lucinda Spaulding's invention of 
a seamless bag. woven like a web of cloth on a loom, to the pro- 
duction of which large factories are now devoted, would make an- 
other chapter. Proof of her invention, produced in court, settled a 
law suit and by it vast interests were determined and adjusted. 
There are probably others of the olden time besides the starch fac- 
tory machinery. And during the last fifty years Wilton hand and 
brain have been busy and are busy still with vast possibilities foi 
the future. But time does not permit me here to enlarge. There 
is enough to show that Wilton ingenuity has made its mark and 
stands well in the advance ranks of this inventive age. 

In nature Wilton is a picturesque gem in a setting of magnificent 
beauty. Its hills with tops crowned with tilth and fields and woods 
and homes, their sides in gentle slopes basking in the bright shining 
of the sun, and covered with flocks and herds and abundant ver- 



24 

dure ; its vallevs with sparkliuo- waters l)atliiiio- the feet of the dfcli- 
vities to theii" maigiiis : the spriuf^s aud fountains, brooks and watei-- 
falls and the flowin<i^ rivers on every hand, <ii\e to Wilton scenery 
variety, beauty and ma<,fniticence, scarcely equaled anywhere in the 
old world or the new. The variety in the rollinjL? hills is pleasing to 
the eye and suggestive of Elysian fields of exquisite loveliness. 
This beautiful picture, on the North and West, is bordered by dis- 
tant mountains, constituting the horizon. That horizon is unsur- 
passed in scenic beauty. From whatever elevation or valley it is 
seen it invites contemplation and commands admiration. Other 
horizons may be more extended. l)ut none are more beautiful. 
From every hill top of Wilton, the morning sun pouring its radiant 
light into this crescent sweep of lofty mountains on the North and 
West, lighting up their distant sloping sides with soft and rosy hues, 
bringing out into distinct vision every beetling crag, every i)rominent 
elevation, revealing the serrated semicircle of thirty miles extent, its 
inclines covered with forests, fields, j/astures and dotted with many 
happy jind beautiful homes, suggests the blessed abodes of peace, 
purity, love and repose. The view is exquisitely beautiful and com- 
mands reverence and adoration by its extent and grandeur. The 
eye can command it, the mind can grasp it and the soul delight in 
it. Wlio standing on Wilton hills sweeps the North and West, 
glances towards the South, pierces the most distant East, and then 
looks up into the heavens, is not ready to exclaim with the 
psalmist, " Great and marvelous are Thy works in wisdom and 
beauty hast Thou made them all !" The counterpart of all this 
beauty, with multiplied beauties added, is most emphatically sug- 
gested while enjoying the raptures of this survey. These moun 
tains invite our buoyant feet. If so beautiful to look upon what are 
they to look from ? Br^'ant sang : 



25 

•' Thou, who would'st see the lovely and the wild 
Mingled, in harmony on Nature's face. 
Ascend our rocky mountains. Let thy foot 
Fail not with weariness, for on their tops. 
The beauty and majesty of earth. 
Spread wide beneath, shall make thee to forget 
The steep and toilsome way." 

Scott sang- the beauties of Scottish scenery, and others have de- 
scribed tlie loftier Alps, and people travel far and admire the pictur- 
esque and grand in nature, but while there are views from higher 
altitudes and of greater extent, there are none of richer and more 
attractive character than our beautiful Wilton and the lofty moun- 
tains at whose feet it lies, affords. People, tired of city life, wishing 
retirement and repose have come to these hills and established 
either permanent or summer homes. They have erected beautiful 
mansions that are ornamental to the town, and in the future there 
will probably be inany more. Each establishment of this kind will 
intiuence to the i)lauting of others, and your town is favorably situ- 
ated to become an extensive summer resort because of its nearness 
to the manufacturing and commercial centres, its excellent railroad 
facilities, its abundant and flowing waters, its healthful climate, its 
lofty and beautiful elevations and its unsurpassed landscape scenery. 
The eloquent oration of Dr. Peabody and the fervid words of 
other speakers, 50 years ago, portrayed the fathers of tlie first cen- 
tury in the most emphatic terms and in vivid colors, as men every way 
worthy of love and veneration. They were men broad and deep in 
their views and plans of life, intellectual, thoughtful, serious and 
earnest. They were religious and moral men, who lielieved in the 
first connnandment of the law, '-Thou shalt love the Lord thy God 
with all thy soul and with all thy mind and with all thy might," and 
in the second which is like unto it, '" Thou shalt love thy neighbor 
as thyself." They felt and acknowledged this accountability, were 
faithful to all the claims of conscience and acknowledijed no master 



26 

but God. They could not bow down to kiiifrly dictation nor creep 
beneath the demands of unrecognized authority. They looked up- 
on every man as equal in the sigiit of God, and as a brother to be 
beloved. They were moral and upright men, ready to do as they 
would that other men should do unto them, and vet with that keen 
sense of justice and that boldness to enforce the right which comes 
of true independence. They never trifled with the serious things of 
life nor let pass opportunities for doing good. They were aggres- 
sive men, seizing the ojiportunities that passed before them, and 
making for themselves opportunities where other men could discover 
no open way. They were men whose sjiiritual life was patterned 
after the patriarchs, and yet moulded and tempered by the sweet 
peaceful influences of the Prince of Peace. Patriotism was a glow- 
ing Are in their hearts that never could be cpienched. Life might 
be sacrificed, want and toil and death endured, but the flames of 
patriotic sentiment and emotion burned brightly while life was pos- 
sessed and were not lost in death. Not only did they live for them- 
selves and their day but they lived and labored for tliose who should 
follow. They jjlanted institutions for their own use, but whose 
foundations were laid deejD in the purposes of their Maker, which 
endure to this day and will endure to the end of time. They 
labored and we have entered into their labors. 

These portraits of the early fatliers of the first century are also 
the true likenesses of the fathers of its later portion, and who 
opened the period of our second century, the middle period of which 
we this day celebrate. Those of us who are ranked as the old men 
now were young men fifty years ago. and we have vivid remem- 
brances of the elderly and middle aged men who were on the stage 
of active life then. They were the worthy descendants of worthy 
fathers. Not one iota of the grand characteristics of the early 
fathers was wanting in the latei- fathers of the first century and 
the commencement of the second. Could it be possible to meas 



27 

lire any differences it would be found that in the aggregate there 
had been an advance. The opportunities which the old fathers had 
created brought to the later fathers an heritage of precept, example 
and attainment that gave advantages not enjoyed in the first half of 
the first century. In a certain measure the successors began where 
their predecessors ended, if not in intention and purpose it was in 
possession and attainment 

Fifty years ago Wilton had men. They were men who were the 
peers of any other community of men anywhere. In the mention 
here of families which were then prominent nothing is intended to be 
invidious to any others not mentioned. It is the f^lory of our re- 
public that the way is broad and wide open for individuals and fam- 
ilies to rise fr^m obscure beginnings and to stand in some quality 
or in many qualities on the pinnacle of progi'essive" development. In 
the course of nature and in the march of time some who stood at the 
summit slide below, and again in the cycles succeeding tliey with 
others mount to the apex, and thus like the rolling sea the move- 
ment goes on, the individual families changing like the waves, 
but the community like the ocean always the same. And so it was 
in 1839, prominent and revered names come before us, and some of 
them were on the stage until a recent date and a few are now. 
Abbott, Whiting, Parkhurst, Newell, Wilson, Gray, Brown, Smith, 
Jones, Steele, Blanchard, Keyes, Livermore. King, Kimball, Man 
sur, Stevens, Putnam, Parker, Sheldon, Rockwood, Holt, Hutchin- 
son, Dascomb, French, Emerson, Pettengall, Barrett. Burton, VVhit- 
temore, Bales, Batchelder, Lovejoy, Spaulding with others, were men 
on whom the mantle of the early fathers fell, and up to whom we, 
who are now old men, used to look with resjject and reverence, akin 
and equal to that which the early fathers had inspired. In general 
men are like men in all times. It is customary to speak of early 
fathers as superior to later fathers. The differences are chiefly 
and only in the minds of the observers. When in childhood and 



28 

youth we measure our iniuiaturitv against the luaturit}' of grown up 
men and they seem gigantic to us. In j[)erson, influence, mental 
power, ability and position they seem and are our sviperiors. But 
when the observers come to full maturity the personal standard of 
self, wliich we use as the scale by which to jneasure old men of our 
youth, has greatly enlarged without being jierceived by us, and the 
men that towered above us years ago are only equals now, and in- 
stead of looking up we look doAvu or on their level, and mistake the 
difference as a decline in other men or families when it is only growth 
of oui'selves. '' Distance lends enchantment to the view " of human- 
ity equally as emj^hatically as to events or scenery. It is a common 
thing to attribute to the early fathers qualities and excellencies in 
excess of the later fathers. It is an unjust comparison due only to 
misconception. All were alike, noble men, and l)ore their burdens 
in life with equal fidelity and ability and should alike command our 
respect and reverence. And so it will be as we pass on. The 
children that look upon us as venerable and large to-day will by and 
by see us or think of us as uuconnnon men, and in their turn 
the}' will pass on and be subjected to the same estimate of the 
young. 

The fathers of 1839 were the wortliy descendants of the fathers 
of 1739 and 1789. They were njen who had the rich experience of 
one hundred years of self government. The town meeting was 
their school and their town officers and representatives were their 
schoolmasters. They closely studied the great social, religious and 
governmental questions of the day. They understood the relations 
between town and state, legislature and executives, the judiciary and 
the people. They studied the great questions of national govern- 
ment, the town's relations to the countiy and the country's duty to 
its people. They were schooled in the tariflf. ready in the relations 
and benefits of commerce and trade and well understood the law of 
nations. They were patrioti<' to the core. In 1842 the commander 



29 

of the Miller Guards offered to serve his country in the expected 
war with England relative to the North Eastern boundary, and again 
in the last great struggle with the South for union. They watched 
with jealous care every invasion of the rights of freemen or of coun- 
try and stood ready to march at the country's call. They were the 
sires of that noble band of 119 Union soldiers that rushed from Wil- 
ton at the country's call in 1861 to 1864, too many of whom, alas, 
never returned. Both blood and treasure were freely given in the 
country's need. Our country can never be conquered while such 
men exist. Education with the fathei's of 1839 was held to be a 
potential element in elevating the people and raising the state and 
the country. Schools flourished at home, and many sons and 
daughters sought knowledge abroad. They became teachers at 
home and were called to schools elsewhere. The educational 
standard was high and universal, and Wilton's people were 
noted wherever known for advancement, intelligence and personal 
accomplishment. A. A. Livermoie. Abiel Abbot, George L. Das- 
comb, James Dascomb, Joseph C. Barrett, Lubim B. Rockwood 
David Morgan, George Brown, Sanford King, Charles F. King, 
Wm. A. Richardson and others, and many daughters of the town 
have stood in the teacher's place and led the young upon the hill 
of science and in the paths of morality and religion. 

The fathers of the latter part of the last century entered upon the 
study of new questions in theology, religious living and church gov- 
ernment, and the old unity of religious faith and pi actice became 
divided into four separate organizations each maintaining its own 
church and clergy, that thus while divided in beliefs and forms they 
might be united in freedom of worship accordiiig to conscience and 
the privileges and blessings of civil and social life. Each denomina- 
tion called pastors of its own specific belief, and the peoj^le main- 
tained at large expense three or four, where one only had formerly 
held the pastoral office for all the town. These separate organiza- 



so 

tions were the result of advance thought in every direction — in 
those who held to the old and in those who held to the new. Those 
of the old studied and reviewed their own beliefs more intently than 
ever before and were more and more firmly fixed in their faith, and 
those of the new discovered new light and new truth, which they 
rested ujjon as essential to salvation. It was the agitation which 
comes of progress and time has proved the etfectivness of the gi-eat 
upheaval and the advancement that it brought to the people. Be- 
cause of it thei'e was deeper thinking and holier living. It 
was discovered that religiou-) truth is infinite as its author and 
that in its varied and unlimited presentations were unfolded 
that divine wisdom, that tills and satisfies the wants of the hungry 
soul. In the giadual breaking of this light onr fathers discovered 
the unity of man in God, and that variiti )ns in views of him and his 
relations to his creatures were but different colorings of the same 
eternal truth. Differences of belief fifty years ago sometimes 

produced exclusiveness in social, political and religious life of tlie 
people, and the clergy sometimes partook of or indvxlged in the senti- 
ment. But later there came a flowing together of the hearts of the 
l)eople, and each pastor in ministering to his own flock lecognized 
every other pastor as God's minister and his own brother. There 
has never been any other agency so potent in stimulating the men- 
tal, moral and sj)iritual life of Wilton people as the religious agita- 
tions of sixty years ago. By it men were brought into a closer study 
of religious truth and into beliefs and decisions that formed the 
bases of life, character and conscience. For sixty years Wilton 
jieople have enjoyed the benefits of this advancement, and it is be- 
lieved will forever maintain it. Instead of six or seven churches be- 
ing to the moral, mental, and spmtual disadvantage of the people the}' 
are its most uplifting agency, for that people that sacrifices most in 
worship will be lifted highest in life and character. 

Agriculture, dairying and kindred interests have much advanced 



31 

in fifty years. The improved methods of farm work, of transporta- 
tion, the better markets and the quickening impulses of trade and 
manufactures have carried Wilton forward far beyond and above its 
condition fifty years ago. Let us glance into centuries to come. 
The progress Avill not stop here. Vast resources remain to be de- 
veloped. Wilton's agricultural possibilities have not j'et reached 
their culmination. Thej^ may be doubled. New products will be 
taken from its soil : its productive power will be doubled. There 
will be better tilth and wider acreage of fertile lands. That time has 
already begun. Its pace is slow. There was not a mowing machine, 
nor harvester, nor horse rake, nor tedder, nor horse hay fork, nor 
sulky plow in existence when I left my farm 44 years ago. These 
and other inventions and better markets are slowly working out 
this improved condition, and it will <:o on. A time is coming when 
the conditions of our country and its jDeople will be much like the 
[conditions of the old world to-day; crowded populations, low wages, 
excess of human labor wanting work and bread, creating a demand 
lor all the products of our soil and skill. We who are living in the 
jright glorious morning of our country's life haA^e never realized 
low plentiful and superabundant are our opportunities in contrast 
vith the conditions over the sea. Here, to rise is easy, there, hard, 
riie happiest conditions of a people are when and where their ap- 
pointments are fresh with the ruddy glow of youth, when growing 
vith plenty of room to grow. Our counti-y is new. We are a new 
people. It is yet moi'iiing : the noon is far away. May its approach 
36 slow. Before it comes necessity wall compel the reclamation of 
)ur waste lands and the making our improved lands more pro 
luctive. The soil of England, Scotland, Germany and France, of all 
llurope, was originally much like ours of New England, rocky, hard, 
)aiTen. Necessity compelled its improvement. The movable rocks 
lave been sunk below the touch of the plow, and the soil tilled and 
inriched until cattle roll in clover over soil one to three feet deep. 



32 

In time it will become so here. Such tillage is possible. It will be 
a step but little beyond that of fifty years ago compared with the 
present. The mowing machine demanded smooth fields. They 
were produced, and so fertile, deep soil will be produced. Seventy 
bushels of wheat to tlie acre have been raised in England. Thirty- 
three have been raised in Wilton in sight of this village. The aver- 
age in the United States is hss than twenty. The great AVest has 
created a fiood tide of migration from New England and many farms 
here have been abandoned, to the present loss and di;- advantage of 
this region. But a change will come in due time. In nations, not 
semi-centennials, but eons of great length are tlie periods with which 
to deal. Not fifty, but hundreds and thousands of years are our 
data, and in forecasting the future by these we may discover what 
our land will be. In time the great West Avill become full to over- 
flowing, and the tide will set back and cover New England as nevei- 
before. Abandoned lands will be taken up again and fields and 
gardens and hou)es will flourish until all valleys and all hills be- 
come fruitful fields, giving life and joy to teeming populations, 
happy, but not happier than the present. A dense population is the 
ultimate destiny of New England, and nearer at hand than ujost 
imagine. Perhaj^s you smile at this prediction and picture. Fur- 
ther on you will discover the advancing hosts, iiefore that time 
just mentioned comes there are other interests that will be developed 
into more immediate results and will be ready to join and unite to 
make our beautiful Wilton still more beautiful and prosperous. 

The greatest, undeveloped, immediate possibilities of Wilton are in 
its vast unoccupied water powers now running to waste. Less than 
half our power is in use to-da}. Here is Wilton's immediately pos- 
sible gold mine. Unlike the slow and tedious work of making over 
its soil here may be (piick development and rich returns. The re- 
cent discovery of electric transmission of powder adds vast impor- 
tance to your cascades. Power from any and every water-fall may 



33 

be carried like soimd on electric wires and collected and used at 
any other point in town. Build dams on every stream, put in tur- 
bine water wheels, drive dynamos to generate electricity, flash that 
electricity to this village, apph^ it to its appropriate work in driving- 
machinery, and you can have what has not been looked for, a city in 
these hills. The large manufacturing concerns here now are doing 
their aj^propriate work to build you up. But they are not equal to 
half your opportunities. On some beautiful elevations, even in the 
centre of the town, on your highest hills, in your valleys or plains, 
and especially in this village, new factories can be built or the old 
ones enlarged to be run by your water powers miles away. Con- 
centration has such advantages that I look for the development, 
when it comes, in the vicinity of this village. The Pettingill dam is 
already built and the wheel pit made by nature. Two or three more 
dams are possible before reai-hing the bridge above and several 
more to Greenville line. The dams need not be expensive ones, 
only enough to turn the water into canals on the river banks, till 
when at a proper level aad in good positions the turbines can be set 
above and away from freshets and ice, the onl}' buildings needful 
being for protection from the weather and intruders. Much o( the 
time, only one man would be needed to care for all the turbines and 
dynamos, on any one of the lai'ge streams by daily visits. Gates 
opened and shut by electricity can be operated at every turbine in 
the system by the gate man at the central station, and if any turbine 
stops or if there is anything wrong an electric wire, and an audo- 
phone will flash the news to headquarters at once. Thus the power 
of all these wheels collected upon one wire would conie down to this 
village. Water power in neighboring towns above may be switched 
on, and its electric force from towns below may be sent up the 
stream for your use. The first bridge below Pine Valley affords a 
fifty-horse power fall, and so on down through Milford, Amherst 
and Merrimack to Merrimack River. Greenville from Wilton line 



34 

to Chamberliii's Mills, Temple and Lyndeborougli to the Monad- 
nocks are full of unoccupied water powers, dancing invitations over 
the rocks, each singing, " Put me to work. I am ready. I am will- 
ing." 

The Souhegan river in Wilton falls apin-oximately 288 feet. Pine 
Valley, Newell, Colony and Davis Mills at the bridge, on my old 
farm, utilize 88 feet of vhe fall and derive therefrom, 560 horse- 
power, leaving 195 feet fall not utilized, but capable of producing 
1231 horse-power at turbines and deducting 20 per cent, for loss, 985 
more available horse j^ower by electricity in this village. I repeat 
560 horse-power in use, 985 not in use, available in this village. In 
as much a;^ Gombol Brook and Rocky Brook empty their waters in- 
to the Souhegan, I have treated thein as affluents, whose united 
waters make the Souhegan volume of water equal throughout the 
town, and this hasty and unsurveyed estimate does not include any 
powers over or outside Wilton's lines, and which amount to some 
hundreds more horse-power. If it is urgedthat water fails in sum- 
mer, I answer, what do your great mills do now in sunnnei? Fifty 
dams above here will constitute a great storage basin, each supply- 
ing the otliei- below without the dangers attendant on gigantic Con- 
omaugh barricades and Johnstown valley devastations. Electric 
transmission of power is having wonderful development. Since the 
foregoing was wi itten I have received the last Scientific American. 
It says electric plants now running number 3351, horse power 459- 
495, increase of capital invested the last six months $42,210,000. 
Forty-nine new electric railroads were being built last February. 
In a few years the cost of building such a system will be very much 
less than now. Royalties on dynamos and motors will expire, the 
cost of construction be reduced, improved appliances be invented 
and experience gained. Young men of Wilton here is opportunity 
at home. I here declare it to be my belief, as at j^resent informed, 
that developing this enterprise is relatively a less undertaking to-day 



35 

than was the establishing' the starch industry 78 j'ears ago and bet- 
ter worthy of your enterprise and capital than any gold, silver, cop- 
per, coal or oil mine in the world. Your capital and its results will 
remain in Wilton. AVilton, you have the possibilities ; I think you 
have the men. And before fifty years again roll around tliis system 
will here be in practical operation. There is no other town in Hills- 
borough county where all things combine, in location, rivers and peo- 
ple more fully to make this development a comjilete success. And 
you will not have to work alone. I wrote to the Thompson, Hous 
ton Motor Company, whose office is in Boston and whose works are 
in Lynn and whose stock of par value of $106 a share, recently was 
reported selling at over $200 a share, and in answer I received this 
letter : 

ABSTRACT OF THOMPSON-HOUSTON LETTERS. 



Boston, M.iss.. Aug. 15. 1889. 
In reply to your favor of 9th inst.: we have for some time past 
been giving attention to the transmission of water power in the way 
you mention for Wilton. If you will give us the hovse-power and 
the distances of the various water powers from the village, we will 
be pleased to give an estimate of the cost of the machinery and 
apparatus, for effectually meeting the demands. And what is more, 
should local capitalists become interested to move in this scheme 
and make things look feasable we should be pleased to take hold 
of it with them and push it to successful completion. We are de- 
sirous of getting a few plants of this kind in this part of the coun- 
try. 

One of the great secrets of the wonderful prosperity and growth 
of Worcester, jNIass., since 1849, when its population was only 8000, 
to the present day, when its population is over 70.000, an increase 
of 62,000 people in 40 years, is or was the establishing vast build- 
ings and steam power, in which rooms and power were let to young- 



36 

mechanics, old mechanics, small concerns, to carry on small enter- 
prises and manufactures, until in their growth, plants of their own 
were created, and thus all the region in every direction is humming 
with industries, and the rooms fii'st occupied have new occupants 
following in the footste2)s of the first, and thus the round goes on. 
Think for a moment what 500 good mechanics with their families 
and workmen would do for AVilton. The possibilities to double or 
triple your jiopulation and prosperity are here under your feet in 
the grand water powers that nature has so bounteously given you. 
What they have cost you in their mad rush to the sea, they will re- 
pay over and over again when hai'nessed to your machinery. Again 
I say, Wilton you have the possibilities ; I think you have the men. 
When all these advantages are in sucessful operation and your town 
has as many thousand people as it now has luiudreds there will be 
no occasion for any son of Wilton soil to say when he comes to the 
old home after long years of absence, as was once said of some town, 
somewhere, '• I see the old mountains, the old sweet hills are here, 
the deep valleys have not changed and the sj^rings and brooks and 
rivers roll on — all as it was in my boyhood — but, where are the 
men ?" Men, men are born here ! Keep them here ! 

Our nation's heritage is in the continent of North A.merica. A 
nation niiist have a place. Adam had Kden. Abraham had Pales- 
tine. Our ancestors had England. We have America. In the na- 
tion's growth, in our country's advancement we have an interest that 
cannot be divorced. We are equal co-partners with every other 
municipality. A town is a member of the nation as certainly as a 
child is a member of a family. If one member suffers, all the othei" 
members suflter with it. Has the nation grown within the last 
fifty years ? First, its landed possessions. Fifty years ago the 
United States of America had 1,786.159 square miles of land. Since 
then we have acquired Texas, New Mexico, California and Alaska. 
1,729,84:1 square miles more of land, making our landed estate to 



37 

day 3,517,000 square miles. Our territory has doubled in the last 
fifty years, since our centennial in 1839. Do we realize the vastness 
of this jjossession ? The Avhole of Euroioe is but little larger. It is 
2,240,000,000 acres. It is 22,400,000 one hundred acre lots. The 
whole of Wiltouis 190 one hundred acre lots. All New England is 
360,422 such lots. There are of this heritage 1,500,000 square 
miles of fertile lands, rich for cultivation. These will all at no dis- 
tant day bloom and glow with " Tilth and herds and swarming 
roads." These 1.500.000 square miles of rich lands will make 
9,800,000 fertile, one hundred acre farms. The fertile lands of 
China, the most populous nation on the globe, are only about half 
as much. Our fertile lands aie 142.000 square miles more than 
the whole of China. Our lakes cover more square miles than the 
wliole of Oreat Britain and Ireland. Their shore line is more than 
3,450 miles. We have 80,000 miles of navigable river banks. The 
whole of Europe has only 34.000. The Mississippi and its branches 
have 35,000 miles of navigation. A. steam boat may pass from the 
Gulf of Mexico on our land, North and Northwesterly, 3,9Q0 miles. 
Our mineral and timber lands are 2,017.01)0 square njiles of land. 
They are inexhaustal^le and to a large extent inhabitable. They 
abound in the viseful and precious metals. Iron, coal. cojDper, tin, 
bismuth, aluminum, sodium, potassium, gold and silver are found in 
vast quantities. The gold and silver mined in the United States in 
the last nine years amount to S736. 127,000. The gold and silver 
production of the world in 1887 was $226,173,000, of which the 
United States produced $87,357,000. The production of all the 
remainder of the world was only once and six-tenths as nuich as 
that of the United States. The I'atio of all our other mining interests 
compared with the whole world is nearly the same as for gold and 
silver. 

By the census of 1700, our territory was 820,000 square miles in 
extent, only one-fourth of the present, and oui- population was 



38 

3,929,827. call it 4,000,000. In 1840 the period was 50 years, and 
our territory had heconje 1,837,159 sciuare miles, or double, and our 
poiuilationwas 17,069.453. It had quadrupled, and a million and a 
third more in fifty years. The period again to the present time is 
50 years and our territory is 3,517,000 square miles or doubled again 
and our population is 70.000 000, again quadrupled and 2.000,000 
more, 16 fold in 100 years. Our jDopiilation has quadrupled each 
fifty years since the American Revolution. This ratio of poi^ulation 
is suprising, both in its magnitude and constancy. More than 
that it is alarming, alarming in its results and consequences. 
Forecast the next two periods of fifty years each and what do we 
see bv this (quadruple ratio 1 Half an hour ago I spoke of advanc- 
ing hosts, and here they are in sight, to the prophetic eye. Fifty 
years from now, in 1939, our population will be 280,000,000. which 
some of this audience will see. One hundred years from now, in 
1989, our population will be 1,120.000,000, equal to three fourths 
the total population of the globe to-day. Perhaps the Wilton child 
is boni tha^ will see that day. Mrs Sarah A. Holt lived to be 103 
years old, a Wilton resident. Mrs. Dr. John Putnam, whom I re- 
member in my childlio^d, had 100 birth days. She was born in 
Wilton, daughter of Edward Herrick. Mrs. Luciuda (Sawtelle) 
Fletcher, born in Wilton in 1788. celebrated her hundreth birth day, 
Aug. 29. 1888. 

The United States now have nineteen people to each square mile 
of land ; China has 270 ; Belgium 343. By the ratio since the 
Revolution, in 100 years, the United States will have 318 to the 
square mile. Wilton now has 72, and in 100 years from now, at half 
the ratio for the whole country, tlie population of Wilton will be 
7,200. Wilton doubled, nearly, in the last fifty years, and- that is 
quadruple inlOOyear.s. and the present population, 1800, quadru})led 
is 7,200, only half the ratio for the whole country. But when that 



.39 

tidal wave of population sets back over New England, the rate of 
increase will be more rapid than at any other period heretofore in the 
last 100 years of Wilton's history. Does any one here to-day say, " I 
do not wish to live here then !" He will not, but if alive then, where 
can he go "? All the country will be equally full. His descendants, 
or somebody's descendants, will be here and will be here to stay. 
And all this in about 100 years from now. Glance, and shrink back 
from the view, into one period more of fifty years, which time will 
only be equal to the age of Wilton to-day, 150 years more, making 
300 years from Wilton's first settlement, and the multitude no man 
can number, gathered from every tribe, kindred and nation undr-r 
the sun. It will be three times the total population at any period 
on the earth since the world began. Room and food will fail, and 
this overwhelming invasion will be checked before that period ar- 
lives. But the billion, in 100 years, are in sight to th-^ prophetic 
?ye. Can they be fed ? China feeds 360,000,000 on her 1.358.000 
square miles good and bad. Tins is 270 on each square mile. Bel- 
gium supports 343 on each square mile. At the same ratio as 
Belgium our 1,500.000 fertile lands will feed 514,500.000 people. 
k.nd if our infertile lands can siippcn't a population only half that of 
Belgium there will be 344.907,000 more, making a total of 8')7.407.- 
300 fed b}' the ratio of known countries. Or, again, if our population 
iverage on our 3,517,000 square miles, only the average of China, it 
.vill be 949,590,000. But if it equals Belgium in density it will be 
1,206,331,000, and this is near the same stated a moment ago, that 
)ur population will be in 100 years, viz : 1,120,000.000 by the pres 
mt ratio of increase. It seems incredible and impossible. But any 
school boy can cipher it out. The ratio is 16 fold in the last 100 
'ears. Our population is 70,000,000, or near it. It is only to 
nultiply 70,000,000 by 16, and the result is 1,1 20,000,000 population 
n these United States, in 100 years from now. It is equal totliree- 
ourths of the total population of the globe to-day. 



40 

Will food fail tlieii ? Even if our soil can only piodnce enough for 
these, there will be no lack, for our manufactures and connnerce 
will produce and procure from all parts of the world such vast sup- 
plies, that another population, perhaps half as large, will have a 
large abundance. If this he so, then our population seems likely to 
equal that of the globe to-day. If these; numberless millions come, 
either in 100 years or 1000 years, the food will come in ecpial ratio, 
and there will be no want. " He openeth his hand and feedeth every 
living thing.'' Multitudes are our destiny. In whatever way we 
forecast the future, the prospect is more than a billion of people in 
our country in 150 years to come by the ratio of the 150 years 
just elai)sed. Nor is this time long. I am not ;i very old man. I 
feel like a young man. But add my age to that of iiiy venerable 
mother, now living, and the sum is 162 years. Dr. Parr of England 
lived to be 152 years old. Your children's children will see that 
day. 

Will wealth be correspondingly increased ? The wt)rld has never 
before seen or produced a people whose capacity and opportunity 
for acquu'ing wealth is equal to ours. Our resource.s of raw material 
are not likely to be exhausted while the world endures. What we 
can produce over and above what we can consume will find ready 
and profitable markets in all parts of the world. Raw material will 
also be imjjorted, to be wrought up and increased in value many 
fold, bv the labor of our hand and brain, and then exported, and thus, 
like night and day, the ceaseless round will run to the end of 
time. Our increase in wealth is vastly niore rapid than in land and 
population. In 1830 the total wealth of the United States was less 
than $1,000,000,000. Sixty years have elaj^sed and our total wealth 
is $56,000,000,000. The ratios are amazing. Ponder them ! The 
ratio of land is 4 fold, of poi)ulation KJ fohl, of wealth 56 fold. The 
world as never before is waking from its lethargic sleep of 6.000 
vears, and the morning light is breaking to usher in a new and bet- 



41 

ter era for the advancement and happiness of the human race. The 
United States stands in the morning dawn, like youthful giants, im- 
patient to grasji and possess the opportunity and the prize. And 
that we can grasp and possess the prize is certain. Besides the re- 
sources of abundant lands, raw material, water, steam and electric 
power and plenty of room, (for the present), the American people 
have two qualifications that no other people have ever possessed in 
equal degree. 

The first is that ingenuity which applies means to ends. Europe 
is as much amazed at our fertility in invention as at our land, seas 
and gi-owth in population. The forty years just passed may be 
called the inventive age My first patent, taken in 1854, is num- 
liered about 8,000. Thirty-five years have passed, and the patents 
in 1889 are numbeied about -109,000, over 400,000 patents taken in 
tlie United States in 35 years. The greatest stimulus that any gov- 
ernment ever placed beff)re its people, for developing mental power, 
is Patent Rights in Inventions and ])rotection of authorship. The 
greatest progress that any people has ever made is through the 
a-eacy of Patent Riglits in inventions and discoveries. The 
greatest boon to mankind, in bringing relief from exhausting toil, in 
supplying abundance and in cheapening the cost of every comfort of 
life is j)ateuted machinery. The fifty years just passed has 
been more ])roductive of wonderful inventions and discoveries 
than any one thousand je&vs of the previous history of the 
world. There have come up ocean steamships, ocean cables, electric 
lighting, electric telegraph, electro plating, spectroscope, spectrum 
analysis, telephones, audiphones, microphones, phonograph, photo- 
graphy, street railways, elevated railways, coal oil, kerosene, natural 
gas, analine colors, steam fire engines, chemical fire extinguishers, 
anesthetics, painless surgery, gun cotton, nitro glycerine, dynamite, 
giant powder, rock rend, aluminum, magnesium, pneumatic tubes, 
electro motors, electric bells, electric railroads, electric transmission 



42 

of power, type writing, cheap postage, vestibule ears, steam heating, 
steam elevators, cantilever bridges, harvesters, mowing machines 
and more than 400,000 other patented inventions, some of them 
of very great importance. The threshing machine created the 
demand for the reaper. That created the demand for the gatherer. 
The two united made the demand for the winnowing attachment, 
that for the bagging, that for the tying and many other smaller parts, 
so that now a Western harvester with 25 men and 20 horses passes 
over a 5,000 acre wheat field, reaps, gathers, threshes, winnows, 
bags, ties the mouth and throws it off for other men and teams to 
gather and transport from the field. The next great agricultural 
invention is the steam plough. Patented inventions are what have 
so reduced the cost and so increased the comforts and elegances of 
life. More ai'e to come. The world is not half invented this day. 
What will the next fifty years produce ? 

The second great qualification for grasjDing and possessing the 
gi'eat prize is the tireless activity of the people. People who 
had the hardihood to leave all for conscience s.ike, as did the Pil- 
grim fathers, transmitted to their children and to their children's 
children a heritage of potential force, heretofore unknown in the 
history of the world. Our people stand in the fore ivont of all 
progress. We grasp it, we embrace it, we acconjplish it, and hold- 
ing it, the victory is ours. Moral and political forces are at work as 
never before. There is yet much to be done. Moral forces have 
not fully kept pace with physical. The most ajiparent great need 
of the country to-day is the suppression of intemperance. Make 
drunkenness as infrequent as theft and as closely subject to similar 
penalties. Put the manufacture and traffic in intoxicants as a bev- 
erage under the same restrictions, and faithfully execute jaidgment 
and punishment thereon, and a new Era would be ushered in. The 
most jDotent agency for the supjDression of this evil, in almost all 
the states of the Union, has never been used. The remedy will not 



43 

come until it is used. That agency is the ballot in the hands of 
women. Peoj)le treat this now as they treated patents and emancipa- 
tion fifty years ago. The indications are larger than a man's hand over 
the sea. The flood of reform in suffrage is nearer at hand than the 
billion in population. Emancipation began its agitation in 1830 
and was accomplished in 1860. Suffrage for women began actively 
in 1860, and we ma}- look for its establishment in many states on 
or before 1920, and that is thirty years to come. It will not require 
an ark of 120 years in building, nor an ark of refuge. It will itself 
be an ark of refuge for the weak and unfortunate. It is based on 
common sense and truth, and truth is mighty and will prevail. The 
quality of things made depends on the quality of the things used. 
Imperfection in the stock will give imperfection in the product. 
Our laws are partial and imperfect because the law-makers are par- 
tial and imperfect. The highest morality of our land does not cast 
the ballot. If any one urges that women are as drunken and crim- 
inal as the men, and men who vote, take the questioner to our courts 
and prisons and ask him why it is that here are 10 men to 1 woman, 
and then ask him why it is that nine-tenths of the degraded women 
are made so, by degraded men. Women by instinct are more re 
fined, more pure and more true in all that relates to good govern- 
ment, morality and religion than men. Church memberships prove 
it. Courts and prisons prove it. Your own observations and ex- 
periences pioveit. Here are great reasons why she should vote with 
men for the law-makers and rulers of the land. She is under law, 
subject to law, and oftentimes a victim of law, and yet not permitted 
to have a hand in making law. Here is subjection, taxation and 
sufiering without representation. Is there any more reason for 
punishing women under laws that men have made, than for j)unishing 
men under laws that women have made ? " Put yourself in her 
place.'' Is she not as human, reasonable, intellectual, responsible, 
conscientious and merciful as men ? All the signs of the times point 



44 



n 



to ii ^reat extension of suffrage and a ])uier ballot, because of a 
purer coiistituencv. AVilton j^eople have never been behind in great 
reforms, nor will they be in this. Men of Wilton will you give it ? 
Women of Wilton will you accept itt 

Our beautiful town enters upon the latter half of its second cen- 
tury under most pleasing prospects. In the retrospects afforded us 
to-day we see what Wilton was fifty years ago, and all about us are 
to be seen what Wilton is. These thriving industries invite to more. 
Thej seem to be ten fold greater than in 1831). The population is 
nearly doubled. The establishment of this vast milk industry here, 
by sons of her soil, is one of her greatest advantages. It is greatly to 
her honor and profit. The entire region, from which is collected this 
great and important dairy jiioduct is contributing to your advance- 
ment. The advantage is a mutual one c:mcentiated here, but 
widely distributed above and below As your fiowing rivers <. atlier 
the rain and dew that hasten on to the great and wide sea, and leave 
their freshness, use and beauty as they roll or ripple along your 
banks, so this industry gathers this lif e-sa\ ing ]jrt)duct from regions 
wider than your waters, transmits and transmutes, within your own 
borders, to your own benefit, and conveys the life giving and life- 
sustaining product, to be distributed over the great and wide sea of 
humanity below. Wilton is doubly blessed in these waters of the 
heavens and in the flowing dairy products of the everlasting hills. 
Wilton's prospects were never brighter than they ai'e to day, and the 
next fifty years ai-e full of promise. She has the opportunities and 
she has the men, and as the forefathers have never been found want- 
ing, so their children and their children's ciiildren will fulfill the pur 
poses of their being and honor the life and character of the patri- 
archs who have gone before. Fifty years hence there will be 
a new history. Your speaker will find richer fields, more absorbing- 
themes and glowing words. Wilton and Wilton people I bid you a 
Happy New Semi-Centennial and wish you many more. 



45 

Mr. Burns. — Wilton has been most fortunate in the character of 
its residents. It has had many famiUes of culture and stability. 
Among the most honored and reputable is that of Abbot, and this 
family is most worthily represented on this occasion in the person 
of Rev. Dr. Francis Abbot who will read an original poem written 
for this anniversary. 



OUR FATHERS. 



BY FR.\NCIS ELLINGWOOD ABBOT, PH. D. 



How wide the ancient homestead throws its door, 

How friendly nod the elms on either side, 
With what warm welcome up the chimney roar 

The flames that blaze and dance in festal jDride, 
When glad Thanksgiving comes ! 
From where the mountains lift their peaks in air, 

From where the ocean breaks on beach or rock, 
From hills, plains, towns, brave sons and daughters fair 

Here to their childhood's haunts together flock 
Fiom far off, scattered homes. 

Forgotten now the witcheries of the world, 

Forgotten now the eager quest and strife. 
Ambition's prizes in the arena hurled, 

Fame, fashion, power, the tinselled gauds of life, 
The fierce, mad hunt for gold ! 
To-day far other thoughts their souls engage — 

Boyhood's delights and girlhood's happy dreams — 
Young life, too gay to have a care for age, 

And budding hope, absorbed in that which seems — 
Thoughts of the days of old — 

Thoughts of the days when sleepless love and care 
Tended each step of heedless tiny feet. 



4(5 

Trained the young mind to learn, to know, to dare^ 
Trained the young soul, in awe and raverenca meet. 
To worship and to work : 
These ai-e the thoughts that fill each swelling heart, 

Now that New England's holiest day arrives, 
For now the grown-up children, long apart. 
Return to re-unite their sundered lives 
"Where tenderest memories lurk. 

For look, behold ! The venerated Sire, 

With silvery locks and pleased, benignant smile. 
Seated in honored age beside the fire, 

And full of wise and gracious words the while. 
Greets each one with delight. 
Clasps, palm to trembliag palm, his beai'ded sons. 

Folds close his matron daughters to his breast. 
Forgets they are not still his little ones, 

And blesses each dear child as aye he blessed, 
And thanks God for the sight. 

And look, behold ! Tliough her mute tongue conceals. 

As o'er her faded cheek the color tlits. 
The pride that in her noble brood she feels. 

Beside tiie Sire the aged Mother sits. 
Fragile and worn and weak. 
Too full of holy joy to utter now 

The thoughts that in her grateful bosom rise ; 
Yet Heaven's own peace is on her gentle brow. 

The light of love miternal in her eyes — 
The love that none can npeak. 

What visions float before ihem as they gaze, — 
Visions of patient watching in the night. 

Visions of pious nurture all the days. 
Visions of gentle guidance to the right 
And warning from the wrong, — 

Visions of love that childish sins forj>ot. 



47 

From graver sins of youth still sought to save, 
And sins of riper years remembered not, 

But grieved, and prayed, and evermore forgave, 
And suffered late and long! 

Hovf thrill the gazing offspring at the sight, 

What sacred memories their spirits stir ! 
Here, in the ancient home's all-holy light. 

They gaze at her, at him, — at him, at her, — 
God-crowned with peace and years ; 
And, though sweet music in their grateful souls. 

Sweet as the voice of brooks or song of birds, 
Upwavd in hymns of joy and reverence rolls, 

The love they feel is all too great for words, 
And overflows in tears. 

Even so, dear Wilton, Mother of our Race ! 

Proud of thy hundred and thy fifty _\ ears, 
And prouder yet of thy immortal grace. 

That still forever young and fi'esh appears. 
Thy children flock to thee : 
To thee, rejoicing in thy length of days. 

From North and South, from East and West they come. 
To bring glad hearts of gratitude and praise, 

And hold Thanksgiving in the ancient home, 
On this thy Jubilee. 

Ah, some there were, who loved thee passing well. 

Whose hearts would glow to greet this festal day ; 
Yet they no more their grateful tale shall tell 

As once they told it, — they have passed away. 
And onward roll the spheres. 
But thou, O Mother of our Race, who must 

Through ages live, unconscious of the tomb, 
Thou harborest h.o\j graves and precious dust. 

And to thy Jubilee thy wanderers come. 
Rejoicing, yet with tears. 



48 

Guard thou the memories of thy noble dead, 

Treasure the simple records of their worth, 
Hand down their story, which, like daily breads 

Shall feed youii^- viitue, and renew the birth 
Of all that saves the State : 
So shall thy fame grow glorious age by age. 

And civic conscience pass from sire to son, — 
So shall thy name be bright ou history's page, 

And win the fair renown which all have won 
Whose work and worth are great. 

"Tis love of these that brings us here to-day. 

That modest names may be with honor crowned; 
Thy thronged Thanksgiving now is proud and gay. 

Because our Fathers aye were faithful found 
In thought, in word, in deed. 
O Wilton, sacred name to all thy sons. 

Revere the men who, at stern Duty's call. 
Heard not the howl of wolves or roar of ofuns. 

But heaid the voice of conscience, still and small, - 
The giand New England breed ! 

Not mine the moving tale to tell 
How heroes faced their dangers well. 
Feared not the deadly ambuscade, 
The whoop that night territic made. 
Nor yet the scai'ce less awful howl 
Uf savage beasts that nightly prowl, 
Nor yet grim hardship, pain, and want, 
Sickness and cold and famine gaunt, 
But cleared the forests, tilled the soil. 

Drove from their haunts the wolf and beai\ 
Founded their homes in honest toil. 

And founded next their house of j^rayer. 

Nor mine to praise the glorious deed 
Of those who felt their icountry's need. 



49 

Refused to pay the tyrant's tax, 
Flung on the ground the hoe and axe. 
Kissed weeping child and fainting wife, 
Counted as dross the joys of life, 
Shouldered the musket, sought the war. 
And died from home and love afar. 
These are thy nobles, country mine ! 

These are thy more than lords and kings ; 
These are the men of strength divine 

From whom thy proudest lineage springs. 

No — not for me the tale to tell 

Of those who wrought, of those who fell : 

' T is not for poet to rehearse. 

Such deeds as these in mincing verse. 

Such deeds as these, such men as those. 

Demand the manlier mood of prose ; 

For truth, like beauty, unadorned. 

Stands forth too glorious to be scorned. 

No — let the words be words of fire, 

But stern as was that iron time: 
I dare not, Hero-Men, aspire 

To tell your deeds in tinkling rhyme ! 

Beauty ! Ah, beauty of the gladsome earth ! 

Sweet Wilton, art thou not her haunt and home ? 
In thy fair valleys had she not her birth ? 

From thy green woodlands has she learned to roam ? 

Thy rocks and rugged hills. 

Thy cool and murmuring rills. 
Thy proud Souhegan dashing down in foam. 

Thy woods and sunny glades. 

Thy mossy forest-shades. 
Thy sailing clouds and blue, imperial dome, — 

If banished by her foes, 

Surely, to scenes like those 
Beauty herself, in tears, would plead once more to come. 



50 

Ye who woul I know what beaut}' means, 

]\Iount to the heights of Abbot Hill ; 
Mark the great landscape, scene of scenes, 

Outstretched in glory, fair and still, 
AVhere o'er the earth Heaven stoops and leans, 

With deeper joy itself to fill. 
Trace out, half seen, half lost, the road 

That winds to yonder valley down, 
Then climbs the hill-toii, high and broad, 

Where stands the " Middle of the Town," — 
Where stood the ancient house of God, 

Beacon and guide, old Wilton's crown. 
Till, like a martyr form 
Engulfed in fier}' storm, 
Perished the belfried tower in seas of flame. 
And, spared all meaner doom. 
In ashes and in gloom 
Left still a blessed memory and name. 

Then raise your eyes beyond, and mark 

The mighty wall of mountains dark. 

Looming on high in purple mist. 

Their summits by the sunlight kissed, 

W^here Pack-Monadnock shuts the scene, 

And grandeur lends to all between. 

Aye, through the wide world seek 
Where mountains, peak by peak, 

Rear their long ranks against the sky. 

And bound the empire of the eye : 
Then scan yon long horizon of the West, 
And this shall be its glory manifest — 
Great Pack-Monadnock stands outvying all the rest. 

Such majesty thy summits wear. 
Fair Wiltox, fairest of the fair ! 
But softer charms thou hid'st away 
Where wandering footsteps seldom stray — 
Where Nature, in her vestal grace. 
Shrinks from men's eyes and veils her face, 



51 



Yet where, in sweet, bewitching spot, 
she smiles, and finds a rival not. 
' T was thus that, forty years ago. 
Ere I had learned the world to know. 
With beckoning smiles she welcomed me, 
A dreamy child, as shy as she. 
Led me apart, and showed me, wondering, then. 
The lonely loveliness of Chestnut Glen. 

O'er many a brown and jagged rock. 
With laughter sweet and merry mock, 
' Twixt banks with ferns and mosses set, 
Leaped a light-hearted rivulet — 
Leaped from the oo2y heights beyond 
Where slept the peaceful lily-pond. 
But soon, with slower, soberer pace. 
It lippled past my favorite place. 
Kissing the roots of one huge tree, 
A stately maple, fair to see. 
That reared its amjiie head aloft, 
A cloud of foliage thick and soft, 
And for the liltle wanderer made 
From sun too hot a shield and shade. 
Hard by, three mights chestnuts stood. 
Three sovereigns of the solitude, 
On whose gnarled boughs the squirrels fat 
Chattered, and chirped, and fearless sat. 
Held the ripe chestnuts in their paws. 
Plied at their ease their sauc}" jaws. 
And rattled down each empty shell. 
Heedless on whom or what it fell, — 
Then ran their races to and fro. 
Eying the harmless child below : 
While overhead, as black as night. 
Flapping his wings in lazy flight. 
When the wise crow the intruder saw. 
He dropped a hoarse and startled ''Caw!" 



52 



Warning his comrades in the wood, 

And fled the perilous solitude. 

Here sheltered safe the lifelong day, 

What bliss to dream the hours away, — 

To make a playmate of the brook. 

Dallying in its favorite nook. 

And singing softly as it fell 

In tiny cataracts down the dell, — 

To dip tired feet in waters cool 

And dabble in the crystal pool, 

While the blue-bottle hovered by, 

Or darted swift the dragon-fly. 

And while o'erhead those glorious trees 

Rustled in every wandering breeze ! 

Alas, those royal shapes are gone. 
Those woodland kings, save one alone, 
And this, decrepit, broken, bare, 
Rears but a mangled trunk in air. 
Changed is the once so lovely scene ; 
The woodman's axe has busy been ; 
A farm-road ploughs the glen's fair side. 
With dreary waste and havoc wide. 
And oxen di-ag the creaking cart 
O'er what was dear to one j^oung heart. 
So must it be — for what we prize 
Melts like a cloud, and beauty dies ; 
Yet never, till my sun is set, 
Shall 1 that winsome haunt forget. 
The loveliest spot I e'er shall know, 
jVIy Chestnut Glen of long ago ! 

' Tis true that beauty dies. 
Yet truer still that beauty lives forever ; 
The great world spins in everlasting skies. 

And these shall perish never. 



;)3 



Nature is God's, and man 
Shall ever find thee beautiful, sweet Wilton ! 
For truth and love and beauty are the plan 

The universe is built on. 

Cherish thy beauty, then. 
The noblest wealth thy children can inherit ; 
Still stamp its seal upon thy stately men, 

Thy women fair in spmt. 

While Time's swift chariot rolls, 
Man's life is thinker, worker, friend, and neighbor, 
And God's own beauty shines in godlike souls 

That spend themselves in labor. 

Naught but the soul's life-plan 
Sinks the deep gulf 'twixt Socrates and Nero : 
T is what he is. not has, that makes the man. 
And what he th'nJiS. the hero. 

For majesty of mind. 
Vigor of will and grace of feeling tender. 
Glory of conscience, leaving all behind, — 

These are the spirit's splendor. 

And such in myriad ways — 
Strong, thoughtful, brave, true, gentle, kind, and loyal- 
Such were the Fathers whom we meet to praise : 

This was their beauty royal. 

Ah, deep the need to-day of men like these. 
Massive and grand as then- own forest trees. 
Steadfast to serve whatever truth they saw. 
Fixed to revere the majesty of law. 
Blind to all dangers in the path they trod. 
Deaf to all voices save the voice of God. 



54 

What though they were no wiser than theu- time, 

Failed without guides Truth's loftier peaks to climb. 

Scaled uot the heights that rose the clouds beyond, 

Broke uot the spell of preconception's bond. 

Foresaw not all the wonders of the new, 

But left some noble work for us to do 1 

Nay, blame them not, unjust: the world lives long, 

And each brief age is for its own task strong ; 

To each in turn great Nature much reveals, 

From each in turn immensely more conceals. 

Blame not the Fathers, who their light obeyed, 

Yet our light could not see, if, as they prayed, 

*' More light " has broken from God's boundless book- 

For man has leai'ned with bolder eyes to look. 

The eternal scriptures Science reads with awe, — 

Discerns tlie workings of a vaster law 

Than once men dreamed of, daring to behold 

A truth diviner than was known of old. 



Yet none the less is need profountl 

Of men like those from whom we sprang. 
Men with the strength of manhood crowned. 
Men swift of heart to heed the sound 
Of Duty's trumiDPt-clang, 
Gifted with scorn superb for hostile cries. 
Fired with undying hate of tricks and lies. 
Fearless alike of open enemies 

And Treacherj^'s serpent-fang, — 
Men who, with faith serene and courage stout, 
Though spies were thick within and foes without, 
Took no weak counsel of their fear or doubt, 
But, sending up to heaven their battle-shout, 
Undazed in victory, unquelled in rout. 
For God and freedom fought their battle out. 
Till all the land with songs and hallelujahs rang. 



55 



We, too, have known the stress and strain, 

The terror of the battle, 
Have seen our country rent in twain. 
Have felt her agon^^ of pain. 

And heard the musket rattle. 

We, too, have seen how life-blood runs. 

How War its victims gathers : 
Midst shot and shell and roaring guns, 
Thank God, our brothers and our sons 
Proved worthy of the Fathers ! 

And, when the bleeding boys we loved 

Looked mutely up to others. 
By Heaven's own love and mercy moved, 
Our sisters and our daughters proved 
How worthy of the ^lothers ! 

We, too, must serve, and work, and wait. 

In higher warfare moral; 
We, too, are set to build the State, — 
Like polyps small in labors great. 

To rear our reef of coral. 



Again the Titans rise 
To scale Olympian skies, — 
To drive fair Freedom from her home 
And quench her stars in endless gloom, 
To give the world a prey to passions fell, 
The rising hopes of man to crush and quell. 
To make of Gold a God, to make of Earth a Hell. 

Foes, grim and mighty, swarm 
To wreak us deadliest harm : 

Corruption, Bribery, Fraud, and Shame, 

Dishonesty of myriad name, 



56 

Venality, alert to skulk and prowl. 

Feeding on corpses like a hideous ghoul, 

The ravenous Greed-ol'-spoils, and Party-spirit foul. 

Want, Waste, Extravagance, 
Hate, Lust, IntemiDerance, 
Too-Mufh demanding more and more, 
Too-Little, wailing at the door, — 
Here bloated Wealth, Parade, and fatuous Pride, 
With Trus'is and sly Monopolies at their side, 
There Poverty forlorn, and Crime in crimson dyed. 

Here Tyranny, the " Boss," 
Our non-imported Joss, 
Bellows with brazen voice and loud, 
And kings it o'er a people cowed : 
There Anarchy, insane and tierce of mood, 
Foams at the mouth, collects her maddened brood. 
Gnashes lier teeth, and glares, and shrieks for lire and blood. 

Here Party, subtle fiend, 
From all detection screened, 
Disguised as Angel of the Light, 
Leads on her followers to the Night, — 
Slays all whose vision is too bold or keen. 
Exalts the blind, the timid, and the mean. 
And bids them all bow down to Moloch, the "Machine:" 

There dull Indifference, 
Callous and slow of sense. 
Greedj' of base and slothful ease. 
And self alone intent to please, 
Buries its vacant mind in matters small, 
Despises that which centres in the All, 
Denies the law divine, and scoffs at Duty's call. 

Alas, on every hand, 

Huge black-browed giants stand. 



57 

Mad champions of the past and dead, 

With wild-eyed Ignorance at their head, 
Roaring- loud-tongued with storms of empt_y speech, 
Smiting with frantic hands at all who teach 
The law divine of Each for All and All for Each. 

These are thy foes to day, 
Thou grand America ! 
'Gainst these, more fierce than Goths or Huns, 
Today thou summonest thy sons, 
And bidd'st their phalanx dense, a glorious band. 
Still, like their Fathers, strong and dauntless stand, 
Faithful to death, and still defend their Fathers' Land. 

No cowardice, no despair ! 
Bravely the conflict dare ! 
Thy sons shall still thy foemen front. 
And bear like men the battle's brunt. 
Fear not the smoke, the shock, the shouts, the scars. 
The struggling ages long of wounds and wars : 
Unquenched, undimmed shall Hash thy diamond crown of stars! 



Beneath the juniper the prophet old. 

By Beer-sh«iba (so runs the Hebrew tale). 

Sat in the wilderness. Of what avail 
His service of Jehovah, long and bold. 
Denouncing lukewarm love and worship cold, 

His zealous slaying of the priests of Baal. 

His stern rebuke of royal Ahab pale! 
He hid his face within his garment's fold. 
What mourned he ? Not the loss of life's reward. 

Not lack of lands or gold or finery. 
Not peril of fierce Jezebel's bloody sword : 

Out from his soul burst forth this bitter cry — 
" I am not better than my fathers. Lord ! 
I am not better than my fathei s ! Let uje die ! ' 



58 

O mighty lesson, vast, magnificent ! 

The ancient legend tires the blood like wine ; 

It bears a truth more precious, grand, divine, 
Than ever poet sang or jjrophet meant, 
A truth with Natui-e's holiest hymnings blent. 

Be better than thy Fathers ! By that sign, 

The woi-ld moves on in Evolution's line, 
Quenching the soul that drones in self-content. 
Wilt thou not life with nobler deeds adorn, 

Thou art no child of theirs, the Fathers leal ! 
To aspii-e, to climb, is ever\' spirit l:>orn : 

Thou canst not live on nothing but the Real — 
Thou canst not eat the husk and spurn the corn — 
Die shalt thou, liv'st thou not bv God's Divine Ideal. 



And thou, my Country, thou must higher build 
The rising temple which is but begun ! 
Not yet with destined splendor can the sun 

Thy spires and pinnacles and tun-ets gild, — 

Not yet is thy grand destiny fulfilled. 

Not yet th}^ race of high achievement run, 
Not yet thy goal of dazzling glory won : 

The voice of God's Ideal is not stilled ! 

'Tis thine to build upon the Fathers' plan. 
Yet give it loftier aims and vaster scope, — 

Thine in the world's great march to lead the van, 
And guide to light all who in darkness grope ; 

For thou art consecrate to God, to Man, — 

To Freedom, Justice, Love, to Gratitude, t» Hope ! 



5J» 



BENEDICTION OF EEV. I. S. LINCOLN 

" Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be Th}' name We 
come to Thee after listening to the discussion of great themes, 
touching human welfare, and ask Thy blessing to rest upon this oc- 
casion. We thank Thee that we are not limited by time or 
space, but we are created in Thine iminortal image so that we may 
ever live in obedience to Thy perfect government and may grow 
happier and better in the ever opening, brightening future. We 
ask Thee to bring about the time when universal purity shall pre- 
l^are us for everlasting peace and joy. Amen.'' 



At the (dose of the literary programme of the morning a collation 
was served in the lower hall and Unitarian vestry, under the manage- 
ment of Henry H. Stickney and S. K. Foster as caterers, assisted by 
an efficient corj^s of heli^ers. About six hundred were present at 
dinner, and a substantial bill of fare was presented, consisting of 
hot baked beans, cold meats, rolls, pastry, c-offee, etc. 



AFTERNOON EXERCISES. 

The company assembled in the Town Hall in the afternoon at 
2:30 o'clock, and completely filled every available place. The Presi- 
dent, iMr. Burns, made a brief opening address, in which he made 
allusion to the centennial of Wilton in 1839. He spoke of a glowing 
and enthusiastic account of that celebration, which was written by 
Isaac Hill, one of New Hampshire's honored sons, and which 
was published April 30, 1840, in the Farmer's Monthly Visitor, 
edited by Mr. Hill. The title of the article is "New England 
and New England Intellect illustrated in the history of the fir.st hun- 
dred years of the town of Wilton." Mr. Hill began his tribute to 
Wilton by the following unique and clearly original lines: 



60 

" What soil, what iioly ground was Yankee Freedom 

built oul 
Such ground as that around, upon, beyond 

the noble hills of Wilton. 
Lexington, Bunker Hill, White Plains, the best blood 

was spilt on. 
That flowed in veins of noble spirits raised around, 

upon, beyond the glorious hills of Wilton. 
What region best fires, rouses, insf>ires a genius 

like John Milton? " 
The elevated land around, upon, beyond 

The gladden'd hills of Wilton," 

and closed by saying " many daughters have done virtuously, but 
thou excellest tbeni all." 

PROGRAMME. 

1. Music by the Band. 

2. Address, "Minister.-; of Wilton," Dr. A A. Livei-inu'a. 

3. Address, lion. Geo. A. Marden 

4. Music, '' Hurrah foi' Old New England." 

Mrs. A. O. Barker and Chorus. 

5. Address, Mr. Isaac Whiting, Wilton. N. H. 

6. Address, Hon. Frank G. C'larke of Peterboro. 

7. Poem. Major D. E. Procter, Wilton, N. H. 

8. At this point the president said it would be interesting to know 

how mam' persons were present who attended the centennial 
fifty years ago, and invited all such to stand and be counted. 
The result showed above one hundred people. 

9. Music, Duet, Mrs. Geo. Whiting and Mr. A. Fletcher. 

10. Address, Geo. E. Bales, Esq., Wilton, N. H. 

11. Music " The song that reached my heai't,'* 

Mrs. George W. Hatcb, 

12. Address, INIr. G. O. Whiting, Lexington, Mass. 

13. Music, Male Quartet, 

H. P. Ring, Warren Jones, Chas. A. Burns, David Stevens. 

14. Address, Dr. Frank M. Pevev. Wilton N. H. 



61 

15. Address, Rev. A. M. Pendleton, Milford, N. H. 

16. Music, "Star Spangled Banner,'' sung by chorus and all the 

assembly. 

17. Benediction, Dr. A. A. Livermore. 



THE MINISTRY OF WILTON. 

Adilre.ss of lie v. A. A. Livermore, D. D., president of the Meadville 
Theological School, Meadville, Penn. 

It has fallen to my lot to speak of the ministei's of Wilton. This 
is due I suppose to the fact that I am a minister's grandson and a 
minister and engaged in training other ministers. 

During tht; one hundred and fifty years of our history there have 
been in all the churches here about fifty ministers. At first tliere 
was but one church, now there ai'e five. 

The first minister who led this company was a native of North- 
bordugh, Mass., Jonathan Livermore, who was ordained Dec. 14, 
1703. He was settled over the whole town under the old system of 
the union of state and church. While all the neighboring ministers 
were Calvinists, he was an American, which was the form of the lib- 
eral Christianity of that day, and to this fact it may be partly due 
that two Unitarian charches have since grown u[) in this town. 
Several hundred of his sermons still exist, of ancient script, yellow 
and solidly scriptural. Mr. Hill of Mason, who preached his fun- 
eral sermon, says " his labors were crowned with sijigular suc- 
cess, one hundi-ed and fifty-two persons being added to the church," 
the test at that day of a minister's usefulness. There were only two 
families in town whose members were not baptized. 

He was followed, after a ministry of a little more than thirteen 
years, by Rev. Abel Fisk, a native of Peppered, Mass., who served 
the church about twenty-four years, a pious and faithful minister. 
His views were Calvinistic. He was much beloved and respected 
by the people of Wilton. He had some salient features of charac- 



tei- ; one was a great love of horses and skill in training- tlieni, which 
liave been said to be clerical propensities. 

He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Beede, a native of Poplin, 
now Frem )ut, N. H., who like his p-edecessor was a gnidaate of 
Harvard College. Many present will remember him — tall, dignified, 
of princely manners, but gracious and loving, and like his Master, 
the friend of children. In the puli)it his manner was earnest and 
eloquent. Several of his sermons were published. It was during 
his ministry in 1816 that the Sunday School w^as established, one of 
the earliest in the country. He removed to Maine after a service of 
twenty-six years. A classmate of Dr. Channing, he was essentially 
of a like faiih, though holding a more hopeful view of the future life 
as a Universalist in his later years. His influence extended beyond 
the town. Hon. Isaac Hill pronounced an afi'ectionate eulogy on 
him, in which he said, "no cleigyman of New Hampshire was better 
known in his native state than Thomas Beede." He was promin- 
ent as a Free Mason, and chaplain of the State Legislature for seven 
successive years. 

Thus three pastorships covered a period of sixty three years, from 
1763 to 1826. They stamped the character of the town as a 
moral and religious community, which has continued to this day. 
By different talents and views t'.iey filled an honorable place in our 
history. 

In the meantime new features of church administration had grown 
up. The Voluntary ss'stem took the place of the Union of to^\n 
and church. Differences in religious views split the Fust church into 
sects of Baptists, Orthodox and Unitarian. Short terms instead of 
long ones became the custom in all the churches in the later history, 
the longest being, I believe, that of He v. D. E. Adams of si.Kteen 
years in the Second Congregational chuich. 

Instead of one race of people we now have three race.-<, English. 
Irish and French in our town. The tight fitting straight-jacket of 
Piu'itan faith and observance has given way to more liberty, a more 
generous culture, pei-haps to more license. The tithing man with 
his stalwart rod of authority is no more. 

Time will fail me to give even the names of the many faithful min- 
isters who have since filled the pulpits of the town. Some are pres- 



63 

eut who can speak for themselves, or have spoken ah'eady, the vener- 
able Lincoln, the beloved Adams and others. Time also will fail 
me to mention the ministers and missionaries, who, either as natives 
or residents, have gone oat from the town to do effectual service in 
behalf of liuuianity and the Christian church, honoring the names of 
Abbot, Barrett, Burton, Peabody, Steele, Wilson, Rockwood and 
others. Bat if anything is omitted, is it not recorded in the his 
tory of tlie town, in the clironicles of one hundred and fifty years, 
chap e IS 13 and 14? 

God bless the ministers of Wilton, and may they be as devoted 
and faithful to their high calhng as their forerunners, who have en- 
tered into the worship and service of the Church Triumphant. 



ADDEESS OF HON. GEO. A. MARDEN OF LOWELL. 

Mr. Marden, having indulged in some ])leasantry as to the intro- 
duction given hi'u by th? President of the Dav, proceeded to speak 
of the significance of the oc -asion wliicli had called together tiie 
sons and daaghters and grandsons and grand dauglit?rs of old Wil- 
ton. As older countries ount tim^, he said. New England is yet 
young, and Wilton is a m !ie youth. But it is to be remembered 
that our fathers began where old England left off, and Wilton adds 
to the hundred and fifty years of her own individual existence, 
all the centuries which represent the development of Great Britain 
fioni the crudest beginnings. The Wilton of 1739 had in it all the 
•' promise and potency' of the results which make up the Wilton of 
1889. And when our fathers came into this wilderness to start new 
homes they brought with them in embryo the entire machinery of 
the govei'ument which ex:ists to-day. Progress has been constant, 
to be sure, and the picture which Mr. Brown has painted, both of 
what has been accomplished and what may be accomplished, can be 
considered exaggerated only in some of its alleged possibilities. 
" Ratios '' are greatly modified by new factors of influence, and the 
increase in population, for instance, which the orator has so empha- 



64 

sized, seems to have met with a sort of automatic check sines the 
days when Wilton's rural school-houses were crowded with the boys 
and girls of the neighborhood. 

Nor is it chiefly in material progress, which can ba state 1 in ra- 
tios and measured by figares, that Wilton's future value to the State 
and the nation is to be estimated. She may double or treble her 
water-power, and by means of dynamos on mountain streams run 
sewing machines and churns in the village, but that is not her chief 
glory. There has been a vast change in Wilton since her people 
celebi'ated the town's birthday at the old Central a half century ago. 
And the Wilton of 18B9 is the conserving force which makes the 
Wiltou of to-day a decent habitation. What we need most in the 
coming fifty years is a digestive power that shall take the vast con- 
glomeration of elements which a free immigration has poured in ujd- 
on us, and mould thein into a homogeneous, safe and relial^le citi- 
zenship. It is the power of the Wilton of our fathers which will 
enable us to do this, and that alone. The typical New England 
town, such as this town has been, and to a great extent still is, is 
both the glory and salvation of New England and the country. One 
may go across the line on the North of us and were he Ijlindfold 
he could almost detect when he left the borders of New England. 
If he goes to the South or West it is to a great extent the same. 
The rest of the country is to be complimented in proportion to the 
New England characteristics it has imbibed. There is something 
infinitely attractive about a New England town of the Wilton tyi)e. 
It is tidy, it is wholesome, it is clean, one may say it is appetizing. 
In any typical New Kngiand home, however humble, one however 
fastidious may eat a square meal and be happy about it. 

If this is local j^ride it is pardonable. One ought to be enthusias- 
tic over the land of his birth ch- the home of his adoption. W^e have 
not heard so much of this to-day as will be heard later on. I iia\ e much 
sympathy with the remorse ascribed to Theodore Parkei-, who, being- 
met one day on the street by an " Adventist " and assm-ed that the 
world was coming to an end within a few weeks replied, '' that does 
notconcern me ; I live in Boston.'' Happy is he who can be enthusiastic 
over his own and feel sure that his enthusiasm has an unquestion- 
able foundation, as can a son or daughter of a town like Wilton. 



65 

Such love cannot easily exaggerate, however warm its language, and 
if the future shall prove as glorious for this venerable town as the 
jmst has been, if the conservative influence of the institutions and 
traditions of the noble men and women who gave us the Wilton of 
histor}', shall have, as we trust and believe they will, the moulding 
and fashioning of the Wilton of prophecy, our children's children 
may be as proud of her as we are, and as justly. 



ADDRESS OF I. S. WHITING. 

There is something peculiarly striking to the imagination in 
pioneer work. Though all times have their dangers and heroisms, 
there is in pioneering an element of the unknown and mysterious 
that smites the imagination with dread of dangers greatly dispro- 
portioned to the cause. As I think of those early settlers groping 
their way through the unknown wilderness, I am reminded of the 
discoverers who have made great names in history — of Columbus, 
held up by divine faith to discover a hemisphere, and round out the 
circle of the world ; of the Cabots, threading the pathless seas to 
an unknown continent. Those early settlers, like these famous men, 
were discoverers and creators, men born to teach mankind new pos- 
sibilities in human nature and to lead us out into farther reaches of 
endeavor. I am tempted to apply to them the words which the 
Almighty reserved for himself : " All things were made by them, 
and without them was not anything made that was made.'' 

If we compare the motives of oar forefathers with those of some 
of the early comers to this continent, they will not suffer in our 
estimation. Melendez came with the sword and stained his hands 
with the massacre of human beings ; Cortez enslaved a nation, and 
DeSoto and his band of gay adventurers came to gain lands, and go 
back home with gold in their hands to spend in the revels of Euro- 
pean courts. Our fathers came with purer motives and a loftier 
purpose. 



66 

" Not as the conqueror comes, 
They the true hearted came ; 
Not with the roll of the stirring drum, 
And the trumpet that sings of fame." 

They came to stay, to build homes and find their happiness in 
domestic life and the rewards of an honest industry. 

If we look for works that entitle them to the glory of mankind, 
we shall find most iii'ominent their declaration of political independ- 
ence. Five days after th^ battle of Lexington the Selectmen put 
out a warrant for a town meeting, saying, " Whereas, it appears at 
this time that our public affair.s are in so distressing a situation that 
we are not in a capacity to proceed in a legal manner, to see if the 
town will vote that the votes and resolves of this and all other meet- 
ings of this town, for the term of one year, shall be binding on the 
inhabitants of the town," — and at the meeting this article was voted. 
They were among the first in the land to perceive that the people 
are the source of political power. The will of the people ! That 
is the foundation of the American Union. It has been the glorious 
theme of every orator since the Union was framed, and not one 
word said in its praise has bean spoken in vain. And yet that suli- 
lime political doctrine was first uttered by men who bore the same 
names as you and I baar ; by men, some of whom have sons here 
to-day, and on a spot not threa miles distant from where we sit. We 
are accustomed to go to distant lands and distant ages for examples 
of great deeds ; but here, right here, among our own hills, we may 
find the insjiiration for great endeavors, and in the archives beneath 
your feet you may see the sacred book that contains the law. 

•'The word unto the j^rophet spoken. 
Was writ on tables yet unbroken.' 

And so on, throiigli all the afairs of life, they showed us ex:im 
plea of achievement. They found here a wilderness : they left 
fields smiling with harvests. They threaded their way through the 
woods to their homes ; they left us broad highways and bridges. 
They displaced the beaver-like instinct of the savage, in whose wig 
warn a thousand years made no change with the intelligence of the 
white man witii whom every generation brings changes and improve- 



67 

ments in his dwelling. They built houses and mills ; the school- 
house, the church, and finally the town house. These they trans- 
mitted to us for our inheritance. Thej found us in " the debt im- 
mense of endless gratitude, still paying, still to owe." 



ADDRESS OF HON. FEANK G. CLARK 

of peteeboro'. 
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

It is difficult to decide which is the harder task to perforin, to ab- 
sent one's self from his native town upon this interesting occasion, 
or to be present at this time, with the recent admirable town history 
in almost every household, together with the eloquent and interest- 
ing words of president and orator still ringing in om- ears, to be 
called upon to speak, and expect to respond in an interesting and 
satisfactory manner. 

If it were not for the clergymen whom I see present I might at 
least say " Amen " to all that has been written and spoken concerning 
this grand old town to-day, and I should be sure that my action 
would meet yovu" approbation, but in theii- presence even that privil- 
ege is denied me, and I feel a ^^ood deal as the prisoner did when 
he was asked by the judge if he liad anything to offer to the court 
before sentence was imposed : "No, your honor," replied the prisoner, 
" there is nothing that I can off'er you, for the reason that my lawyer 
has taken every cent I had ; " and so it is with me at the present 
time, I have at least nothing new to off'er, for the history of Wilton 
and the distinguished gentlemen who have preceeded me have most 
eloquently and ably stated it all. 

And yet is that a valid reason why a loyal son of this good old 
town should remain entirely silent upon this glad day ? No, Mr. 
President, it is no good reason why we should not signify our loyalty 
and devotion to the town of our nativity ; it is no good reason why 
we should not express our gratitude and reverence for its founders 
and its institutions. 



68 

The hearts of her childi-en are to-day throbbing with love for the 
familiar scenes of childhoods days and the cherished memories that 
cluster around them. Now fond recollections flash through our 
minds, telling us of joy, of gladness and of realized hopes, anon feel- 
ings of sadness come rushing over us as we are reminded of the 
ashes of our beloved dead upon yonder hillside ; these tender mem- 
ories are what make the old place dear to us. There is another rea- 
son why this, our native town, should be dfear to us. Whatsoever 
we may have attained that is pure, good, manly or womanly ; what- 
soever we may have attained that is honorable in this life, we are 
indebted for it in no small degree to this, our native town, for it is 
here that the foundation of those principles were formed ; it is here 
that they were tenderly nourished and fashioned. 

We often hear with pride of the achievements of New Hamp- 
shire's eminent sons ; we heard of them when Daniel Webster and 
John P. Hale and Henry Wilson stood like majestic sentinels in the 
Senate of the United States, upholding with peerless strength the 
principles of right and good government. We heard of them again 
in 1861, when the cause of human liberty was imperiled, when the 
rights of citizenship were assailed, and the very foundation of our 
government trembled. With one accord thousands of brave sons 
left their firesides and offered themselves as a sacrifice upon the 
altar of their country ; yes, in those gloomy days we heard of the 
daughters also, the Florence Nightingales, whose soft whisper and 
gentle touch nursed back to health the sick and wounded, and 
soothed the pain of the dying soldier in his agony and despair. I 
remember well the heroism of the brave sons of Wilton in those 
days of doubt and danger. We recall with pride their patriotism 
and valor as, with feelings of deep emotion, they arose in public 
meetings and responded to the call for volunteers. Men who never 
spoke in public before offered themselves to theu' country in words 
more eloquent and inspiring than ever siuQe were heard, and they 
made an impression upon my youthful mind that I shall never for- 
get. We are accustomed to refer to these as New Hampshire men 
and women, when the fact is that the towns in which they passed 
their early years are entitled to the credit of their noble deeds much 
more than the State of New Hampshire. The church, the school - 
house, the lyceum. the town meeting, each and all-are institutions 



of the town and not of the State. It is here that characters are 
formed before the forum and market places are reached. It is here 
that virtue, integrity and patriotism develop. These factors, to- 
gether with the pure, upright, generous, self sacrificing lives of the 
uoble men and women who have stood as beacon lights to the young 
people around them, have made the sons and daughters of Wilton 
what they are, and their lives and deeds reflect a lustre that helps to 
make up lier history, and we are here to dsy to acknowledge it, and 
with grateful hearts and willing voices to paj' a loving tribute to 
then- worth and memory. May the fond recollections of this day 
ever continue to linger with us, making our deeds and lives such 
that they also may be worthy of emulation ; then the reputation of 
this good old town we all love so well will in the future, as in the 
past, live on and live ever, a credit to her worthy sons and daughters. 



ANNIVERSARY POEM. 

BY MA.TOR D. E. PROCTOR. 

One hundred and fifty years, 
With all its hopes and fears, 

Have passed away. 
We come from distant lands. 
With warm hearts and cordial hands, 
In happy, joyous bands. 

This autumn day, 

To honor the brave, true men, 
Who, leaving home and friend, 

.\nd came to this 
Good town, so strong and firm, 
A Christian home to earn — 
To fertile farms they turned, 

Al wilderness. 



70 

Let praise to God ascend : 
Let all oiu- voices blend, 

To him in song, 
And praise him for the light. 
That's kept these homes so bright. 
Through storms and darkest night, 

These years so long. 

Soldiers in truth were they, 
Trusting in God each day. 

Their faith above. 
They cleared these hills and bogs. 
They worked through suns and fogs. 
Their homes were built of logs, 

Then- labor, love. 

For right and righteous laws. 
They fought in English wars, 

For England's gain. 
Nobly and weU they fought, 
With sword and cannon shot. 
Dear the victories they bought. 

On bloody plain. 

Again when EngUsh gi*eed, 
Caused the Colonies to bleed. 

By unjust law, 
Fii'st from these grand old hills. 
They ralHed with a will. 
Fighting at Bunker Hill, 

A holy war. 

They fought with valor sharp. - 
Under AMiite Mountain Stark, 

At Bennington. 
They humbled old King George 
At Trenton, Valley Forge. 
Nor sheathed the trusty sword. 

Till war was done. 



71 

Penniless they returned, 
Their honors nobly earned, 

Their work well done. 
With a faith that never flagged, 
They planted Freedom's flag, 
Upon the highest crag 

Of mountain home. 

They changed the sword to plow, 
Their harvests a varied flow 

Of milk and honey. 
They sold theii" pork in trade. 
And hard, sharp bargains made : 
Their balances they paid 

In Continental money. 

The Parson then was chief. 
Sincere in his beHef, 

God's way he told. 
Teaching all to lead a life. 
Above reproach and strife, 
And used sin's pruning knife. 

In manner bold. 

His rules were well obeyed, 

The sheep were few that strayed. 

From out the fold. 
For his support each man. 
Of every race or clan. 
Must pay upon his land, 

A tax in gold. 

Many years up and down, 
With the people of the toAvn, 

The parson went. 
Christened those of tender years. 
Married them, soothed theii- fears. 
Mingled with them his tears, 

AVlien life was spent. 



72 

To-day, the change how great ! 
He comes within the gate, 

The Christian preacher. 
The second, his flock he cheers ; 
The thii-d day, words and tears, 
While on the fourth api^ears, 

Another teacher. 

With force the question comes. 
Are we to-day true sons 

Of noble sires ? 
Have we done what was right. 
And kept with main and might. 
On the altars burning bright, 

The ancestral tires? 

Wherever it be thy part. 
In town or crowded mart. 

With all its noise. 
Be this answer to thy mind, 
In places of every kind, 
Of honor and trust, you "11 find 

Our Wilton boys. 

Wlien treason spurned our flag, 
And raised the rebel rag, 

AVith shotted guns, 
They, as their fathers rose, 
And gave back blows for blows, 
Against their country's foes. 

Your nolile sons. 

The}^ marched in torrid sun. 
They fought at first Bull Run. 

Through ebb and flood. 
On every field made red. 
By human gore they bled ; 
In death and wounds they shed, 

Pui'e Wilton blood. 



73 

As when the star of peace, 
Gave the promise from the east, 

To Judah's flocks. 
The grand armies had met. 
And slavery had paid the debt, 
And treason's sun had set, 

At Aj^pomattox. 

Like the fathers of okl, 
They retui-ned to the fold, 

"What was left of them." 
And into ways of peace, 
Joyous, a glad release, 
They turned to Freedom's feast, 

Good honest men. 

Some chose the city's charms. 
Some on the good old farms, 

To work and Avait. 
Some thought the old home nest 
Not large enough, and best 
Obey Greeley, " Go west," 

For fortune's fate. 

Some who were bright and keen, 
Kindly took to medicine. 

The way the best. 
Trusting that by httle skill, 
Giving for every ill, 
A sugared brown bread pill, 

Achieved success. 

Some batthng in the strife. 
Sought to lead a merchant's life, 

To earn their bread. 
Selling sugar mixed with sand, 
Shaking warmly by the hand, 
Talking soft, smooth and bland, 

While victims bled. 



74 

Some having a legal turn, 
Being wise, bright and learned, 

Nimble of jaw, 
Kindled a legal flame, 
Rising to wealth and fame, 
And earned an honored name, 

In c'ominon law. 

Others called by the Lord, 
To preach His holy word, 

A trust given. 
To teach the way the best. 
To gain the home of rest, 
With saints immortal blest, 

Safe in heaven. 

Now whatever you may do. 
Just mark this to be true. 

To-day as then. 
Here is the same sharp grit. 
The same get up and git. 
As 'twas in "seventy-six,'' 

'Mong Wilton men. 

If again the sound of war, 
Be echoed from afar. 

Among these hills, 
The sons of vets youll find. 
Shoulder to shoulder in line. 
Fighting beneath the pme. 

Braving the ills. 

Of battle and the sound 
Of woe that gathers round. 

At every turning. 
With a faith that never tires, 
They, brave as were their sires, 
Will keep the loyal fires 

Brightly biivuing. 



75 

All honors to the brave, 
Wlio nobly died to save 

Oui- country free. 
Wherever theu' bones may rest, 
In valley or mountain crest, 
May the sacred spot be blest, 

Through eternity. 

Honor the mothers dear. 
Who mingled hope with fear. 

With every care, 
As in the homes they stayed, 
And in silent sorrow prayed, 
And saw within the shade. 

The vacant chair. 

Our every prayer shall be. 
Keep our laud forever free. 

Its praises sing. 
" Long may these hills be briglit. 
With freedom's holy light. 
Protect us by thy might. 

Great God our Kine." 



ADDRESS BY GEO. E. BALES, ESQ. 

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

There is somehow a misfortune Avhich attaches to members of 
the legal fraternity in that they are expected to make a speech upon 
any and all occasions. But I have sometimes thought that this 
misfortvme is not confined to the lawyers, but rather extends to 
those who are compelled to listen. 

However, I can conceive of no occasion which would better serve 
as an inspiration for a speaker, than the event which we are to-day 



7G 

commemorating. And indeed the thoughts which this interesting- 
occasion suggests are so numerous and varied, that the time allot- 
ted seems entirely inadequate in which to give expression to the 
sentiments which demand utterance. 

But there is one Hne of thought from Avhich, owing to my tender 
years, I am from necessity excluded. I cannot, as my esteemed 
legal friend, Mr. Biu'ns, might once have said, "indulge in remi- 
nensesy 

This is certainly an important day in the history of Wilton. The 
spirit of celebration is eclioing and re-echoing among these rugged 
hnis, and is illuminating the beautiful valleys of this historic town. 
It is eminently fitting that upon this occasion, as the younger gen- 
eration, we should pay to the ancient town the homage which is 
ever due from youth to old age. Rejn'esenting this younger gen- 
eration of native born and adopted citizens, I bring their siluta- 
tions to Wilton upon this, its natal day, — ^a day which signalizes the 
completion of a century and a half of municipal life. 

The town enters to-day upon a new chapter in its history, and 
its sons and daughters have assembled around the family hearth- 
stone, glorying in the past and hopeful of the future ; showing by 
their presence here to-day their love for the old town and reverence 
for its founders. And they are most worthy of unstinted praise 
for the heroism they disi:)layed, the sacrifices they made, and the 
hardships which they endured in therr pioneer life. As we consider 
the character of tlieir work, the story of which the orator of the 
morning has rehearsed, we look back through the long vista of 
years with feelings of profound respect and veneration. We can 
to-day -visit shrines of grander fame in other lands : there ^-iew the 
work of the masters of architecture and behold the beauties of art. 
We can in imagination recreate the glorious temples of ancient 
Athens. In Westminster Abbey we could hold communion with 
warriors and statesmen. But none of these are so suggestive of 
the glory, the grandeur or the humanity of mankind as this observ- 
ance of a town's bii'thday. 

The past is full of the achievements of men : the success of pop- 
ular government is an assured fact : human thought has been 
emancipated ; slavery abolishcMl : the forces of nature made obedi- 
ent to the will of man. aiid the nation saved from outward foes. 



77 

But our conflict will be, not with armed hosts upon the field of 
battle, but with those insidious forces which threatened corruption 
to the moral sentiments of our people — those forces which would 
violate the sanctity of home, or would subvert the institutions which 
are the pride and glory of New England. 

We should stand firm against any encroachments upon oui* 
rights ; adjust, so far as possible, the great economic problems 
which confront us, and as far as we are able, diffuse the blessing of 
education among the masses. In a word, let us, my young friends, 
appreciate more fully the duties and responsibiUties of citizenship. 

A gallant color-bearer at Port Hudson, at the head of his detach- 
ment, was sent to capture a neighboring hill, for which the Confed- 
erates were also racing. The company moved steadily but surely 
up the hill, the heroic color-bearer at its head, bearing his flag in 
one hand high above him. Onward he marched, a tall, conspicuous 
mark for the enemy. When look ! the hand that bore aloft the 
banner is pierced with a rifle ball. He caught the banner in the 
other hand, and when they had almost gained the hill-top, that 
hand went down, and the cheers which greeted him when he caught 
the banner in that hand, were changed to groans. But look again ! 
he raised his wounded hands, caught the falling flag and j)lunged 
it into the breast of his uniform, staggered the few remaining steps 
to the top of the hill, and for a moment he stood balancing on his 
chill the banner above him, his bleeding hands hanging helpless at 
his side. And as he fell back into a comrade's arms to die, they 
heard him exclaim, " Boys, it never touched the ground." 

And so, my young friends, may we maintain the standard raised 
one hundred and fifty years ago by our heroic. God-fearing ances- 
tors, continued only at terrible sacrifice during all these years, so 
that when the time comes that we shall commit it to other, and we 
trust better hands, may we be able to say with the gallant color- 
bearer at Port Hudson, ''It never touched the ground." 



78 

ADDRESS OF MR. (I. 0. WHITIXG, 

OF LEXINGTON. MASS. 

(Abstract.) 

In the introduction, the President of the day referred to the 
poKtics of ]\ir. "Whiting in such a way that he felt called upon to 
tell the story of the man who met the Jew on the street and dehb- 
erately knocked him down. When asked the cause of his strange 
conduct, the man replied, "• I did it because you are one of the fel- 
lows who persecuted Christ." Bat said one of the crowd which 
had gathered, '■• That was 1800 years ago.'' "I don't care,"' was the 
reply, " I did not hear about it until last night." I don't know but 
I feel at present much as the Jew must have felt, continued Mi*. 
Whiting. Some time ago my brother, in speakmg of this celebra- 
tion, said that if I felt like it they would like to hear from me. He 
also said they proposed ha^ing an antiquarian room, and any con- 
tributions I could make would be acceptable. 

This pai't of his request I referred to IVIi's. Whiting, and imme- 
diately forgot about both of them. Some few days after I remem- 
bered what my brother had said, and so asked my wife if she had 
thought of any reUcs to send. She said " Yes,'' that after mature 
deliberation she had decided to send me. So here I am, loaned for 
the occasion. 

I am proud to call myself a son of Wilton. My life has fallen 
partly in two generations. I was born in time to remember well 
the last, with its dip candles, huge lire places and brick ovens. 
When I was a bov it was fifteen or twenty miles to the neai'e.st rail- 
road station. To-day every house in Wilton is a good one, and the 
raih'oad is at our doors, so that excursions may be enjoyed by 
nearly all. Nearly every luxuiy under the sun is ours, and yet we 
are not happy. How often we hear the complaint that the days are 
not as good as they used to be. This is aU a mistake. Times are 
improving. In every dii'ection we can see we are living on a more 
generous scale. 

I remember the spring wagon which my father used to go to the 
mill in and to the meeting on Sunday. It was the first and best 



79 

one in town, and yet to-day everyone has two or three as good or 
better than it. 

We are H^dng• on a higher plane. The Wilton of to-day is far in 
advance of the Wilton of 50 years ago, and 50 years hence there 
will be a still larger advance. 

That the greatest happiness and prosj)erity may come to every 
citizen of my native town is my sincere wish. 



DKF.M.PEVEY'S ADDEESS. 

Mr. President, Fellow Citizens of Wilton : 

It gives me great pleasure to be permitted to stand here to-day 
for a few moments and give in my testimony for the good town of 
Wilton. I will not say the old town of Wilton for I do not regard 
that word as appropriate to a town in a republic until at least it 
has had a life of a thousand years. 

I am not a native of this town, though I came within two of being 
born here, i. e. two towns, for Lyndboro' and Greenfield lie be- 
tween this town and Bennington, and Bennington is the place of 
my nativity. But I have lived here long enough to gain a residence 
and long enough to attain to my majority, for I have resided in Wil- 
ton over twenty-one years ; yes, nearly thu'ty. During that time I 
have identified myself with the interests of the town, I have re- 
joiced with its citizens when they had occasion to rejoice and I have 
suffered with them in their calamities of fire and flood. I love the 
town of Wilton, and as Carlisle says " A town consists in the lives 
of its inhabitants," I love the people of Wilton. 

A few weeks since the President of the United States passed 
through a portion of the State and met with a royal reception. 
The Boston papers remarked the next morning that the patriotism 
of New Hampshii'e was hard to beat, that New Hampshii'e people 
would do their duty, — in such a case let the Executive of the nation 
belong to one party or the other. 

This gathering to-day is in the line of patriotism, love of country, 



love of township, love of home. You are celebratinf^ the anniver- 
sary day of your nativity because you are interested in the welfare 
of your town. It is highly appropriate for the citizens of a town, as 
for an individual, occasionally to stop and look back over the path 
by which they have come and count the deeds they have done, in 
order that they may intelligently rejoice over then- successes and 
improve by their mistakes. 

This town has had a varied experience. It has had its seasons of 
affliction and disaster as well as seasons of prosperity, and duiing 
its life of one hundred and fifty years it has deported itself nobly. 
It has secured for itself an enviable position among the towns of 
the State, a position of which its citizens may well feel proud. 

There are two events I will call j'our attention to to-day. One 
is the fact that your life for the last hundred years has been co- 
existant with the life of oui- government. Just one hundi'ed years 
ago our national government commenced its existence. George 
Washington, the first President of these United States took his seat 
and delivered his first message to Congress in which was the mem- 
orable words which have been repeated in jest and in earnest so 
many times since, that " virtue and happiness are inseparable." In 
the same address he said that it was his conviction that the repub- 
lican model of government had been entrusted as an experiment 
to the American people. It has been preserved for one hundred 
years and we confidently hope that its life will be perpetual. 

Another event to which I will refer is this : One hundred years 
ago this year my grandfather, Peter Pevey, lived in this town. He 
worked in a mill, one of the first built in this town, located in the 
French village, called the Fowler Mill. Two years previous he mar- 
ried a Miss Cummings, who lived in the family of a Mr. Abbott. 
In 1789, just one hundred years ago, he moved with his family to 
the Southern part of Greenfield, into a log house on the side of the 
mountain. He cU'Ove a yoke of oxen drawing what little furniture 
they had, his wife with a child in her arms going before through 
the wilderness by a road designated by notched trees. She arrived 
first at the house and as tradition has it sat down and in her loneli- 
ness wept like a child. After the gush of feeling was over she 
arose and attended to the work of house-keeeping. They lived 
there many long and dreary years and in time built them a new 



81 

house. There were born to them twelve children. Eight hved to 
grow up, but recently the last of that generation has passed away. 
" So women must weep and men must work, but time goes on for- 
ever, forever !" 

Reference has been made to the fact that the committee who ar- 
ranged for the celebration fifty years ago were not here to-day but 
are all gone. It seems to me we should take a different view. 
Such noble men must have so shaped the events of then- time that 
to-day we do see the effect of their lives and in a very important 
sense they are here at this anniversary. 

So my friends we shall attend the next anniversary. We shall 
be there whether we will or no. Then let us stamp the age in 
which we live in such a way as to leave an impress upon any time 
that will helj) to make that an occasion of pleasure and rejoicing. 



EEV. A. M. PENDLETON'S ADDEESS. 

I have an ideal of a town which will hold a jubilee once at least 
in fifty years, not simply to commemorate the passage of so much 
time, but to recount the progress it has made during that time. It 
is not mine to say what will be Wilton's gain in the next half cen- 
tury, but I can easily indicate the lines on which it will ba made if 
made at all. It will be, first when her most enterprising citizens 
turn theu- trained intelligence to the develoj^ment of the sources of 
wealth at hand instead of seeking their fortunes elsewhere, or, stay- 
ing at home, plod along in old ruts by traditional methods and place 
their money in the farms and enterprises of other states to the neg- 
lect of home industries, and secondly, it will be when one and all 
make it a part of their conscious mental habit to further the well 
being of the town. The measure of a town's prosperity is the num- 
ber of people in it who combine to build it up. Now any projected 
impi'ovement of mvich moment encounters long delay and no little 
opposition. Individual selfishness hinders if it cannot appropriate 
the common good. Bat the true business citizen already knows 



H-2 

that mdivitlual prosperity apart from the common good is dehisive. 
The gain of all is his gain. There is a life in common which if we 
live not well we fail individually even more consjiiciously. The 
thought is no new thought. It was felicitously expressed by a 
society of some centuiies ago in the significant and noble name by 
which they designated themselves, "The Brethren of the Life in 
Common." More distant centuries still recorded it in a luminous 
text of the Old Testament : " Then helped every one his neighbor," 
and every one said to his brother, '• Be of good courage." So the 
carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and "he that smootheth 
with the hammer him that smote the anvil," and then of course they 
had the perfect society. Everybody helped and together they 
secured the complete good that everybody wanted. So when you 
have for a priuie article of your town creed some such declaration 
as this, "We believe in doing witli as little stress and strain as pos- 
sible one good thing alter another, world without end," a great 
connnittee, comprising the lai'ge mindodness, the wise foreseeing, 
the achieving hands, not officially appointed, but drawn together by 
elemental force, will lay out a series of in:provements which you 
will take up in wise order year by yeai", till you have in Wilton all 
the advantage.-; to be had in any other town, to the end that yours 
may be fit to be the residence of the better men and women of the 
coming time. 

The most significant, and. to me, interestiiig thing said to-day, was 
said by the principal speaker this morning. When your orator be- 
gan to forecast the possible future of Wilton, I felt a momentary 
apprehension lest he should treat as to the usual florid declamation 
with which an American loves to speak of his country in gross or 
detail. I said inwardly, '" Now the American eagle will surely flap his 
wings." Instead, however, he gave us a sober scientitic state. nent 
of the resources of water power in this valley, still remaining unused 
and capable of being used, in amount greater and more imjiortant 
than that which you have already utilized. Then by a large sugges- 
tion he went on to tell you how, by the ajjplication of electricity, 
these streams might be almost infinitely magnified, and your fac 
tories placed miles away in better localities than this narrow valley 
aflbrds, with new poi:)ulations and industries around them. 



Instantly I recalled a memorable answer of Professor Peirce, 
of Harvard College, to a skeptical student who asked him one day 
in that spirit of doubt which finds nothing fixed or certain in this 
universe, " How do I know that the sun will rise to-morrow ? " 
" Know it,"' said the religious man of science, "Know it as you do 
any other truth, on the veracity of God." There are no shams in 
nature. Will Wilton have a better future? Yea, as God lives. Hid 
within the iron hills, flowing in her streauis, deej) in her soil, abroad 
in her jjieen acres are God's reserves of power which he keeps 
for the distant generations tbat they n)ii\ find no slacking of his 
hand, but the eternal word sure. 



BENEDICTION BY REV. A. A. LIVERMORE. 

And now unto the God of our Fathers and to our God we com- 
mend ourselves and our town for the future as for the past, and 
may the love of the Heavenly Father and the grace of Jesus Christ 
and the communicui of the Holy Spirit be with us forevei-. Amen. 



Contributed on request of the Committee by Mr. Abiel 
Abbot, 81 Years of Age, 

To THE Committee of Arrangements, — 

Gentlemen, — Having been invited by you to make some remarks 
on the occasion of our late celebration, I was prepared to do so 
had the time allowed. In compliance with your subsequent request 
for a copy of the remarks I would have made, I can only, not having 
them written, give you the substance of what I should have said. 
This I do herewith, — the more readily, as, having been in 1839 one 
of the committee to prepare and publish the account of the Centen- 
nial Celebration, I am glad in any way to facilitate your similar 
labors. 



84 



1 



Mr. President, — Allusion has been made to the fondness for 
horses of our second minister, Rev. Abel Fisk, who lived where Mr. 
Gardner Blanchard now lives. At the time of his deatli his oldest 
son, the late Dea. Abel Fisk, was about 18 years old. In his 
'* Recollections '' of his father, given me many j'^ears ago, Dea. Fisk 
speaks of this trait and of his father sometimes having colts and 
young horses of his parishioners to break and train. He now and 
then rode them to his pastures on the Ministry Lots, which had not 
yet been sold, — one of his pastures being just north of the John 
Dale farm, to which a part of it was afterwards added. On one 
occasion he w'as seen coming from the north toward home, when the 
horse, taking bit in teeth, ran from the Common, in sjjite of efforts 
to hold him, down the hills to the barn. Mr. Fisk turned him about, 
and quietly saying, " You came for your pleasure and now must go 
back for mine." made him do it in satisfactory fashion. He was 
fond of music, and pleased with martial music. In his walks or 
rides about town, he had a habit, when not near houses, of hiun- 
ming or siBging, so that the words would be heard by his little son 
on behind him,- — ahva3'S psalm tunes, — as old Wintei-. to the words, 

His hoary frost. His fleec}' snow. 

Descend and clothe the ground. 
The liquid streams forbear to How, 

In icy fetters bound. 

It was his ])iactice to visit the schools, and sometimes at the close 
of the week to catechise the scholars. He made himself familiar, 
and often almost playful with children and youth ; would rarely 
meet them without stoiDjjing, and after a few kindly words pass on. 
He was of quick S3mpathies, and entered readily into the feelings 
of others, — uniformly cheerful, naturally of a hopeful temiDerament. 
looking on the bright side of things, — disposed to be social and 
affable with all he met, returning in a kindly way their respectful 
salutations. 

He uniformly wore small clothes, black coat, single breasted, 
straight bodied, of Quaker form ; never anything but Avhite about 
his neck ; bands sometimes on special occasions ; never a surplice : 
white topped boots in cold weather, shoes in warm : always cocked 



85 

hats, until about the time of his.<i;-oing in 1795 to the ordination of 
Rev. A. Abbot, in Connecticut, when he put on his first round hat. 

He was often consulted b}- people in cases of disagreement or 
difficulty. It was his intention and practice to visit every family in 
the parish at least once a year ; also, at other times those in misfor- 
tune or trouble, — as when he went to see Mr. Job Abbot, on part of 
the present county farm, the day after his barn was burnt. 

He was in the habit of devoting himself much to the sick, and 
manifested a desire to be with them. Hearing- of the severe sick- 
ne.ss of Capt. Moore (living east of where A. B. Melendy now lives) 
in the mile slip, which was in his parochial care, and anxious to see 
him, he went staff in hand, in a severe snow storm in winter, over 
the blocked roads, calling on the way occasionally to rest, nearly 
four miles, and visited him, his family thinking it an imprudent 
exposure. 

Nothing of evil tendency could excite much attention in town, nor 
political or other questions create much excitement, without his 
people being sure to hear iheir minister's opinion from the pulpit. 
And in town meetings he was as free to express his views on politi- 
cal or other questions as any citizen, and would often engage with 
zeal in the discussion of thenj. Nevertheless, at the time of his 
death, there weie few voters in town (perhaps three or a half dozen) 
who did not habitually attend his preaching. 

Mr. Fisk was out in the Continental service as chaplain. Dr. 
Rockwood was out at the same time as surgeon, and being on one 
occasion sick, the chaplain attended to his wants till, the troops 
moving, he was obliged to go on with them and leave liis friend to 
the care of others. Of the Continental money received as pay he 
at one time gave $200 for a bridle. The depreciation of the money 
in which the revoh;tionary soldiers were paid, was one of their hard- 
slii])s from which the soldiers of later w'ars have suffered compara- 
tively little. 

I notice, Mi-. President, in the History of Wilton, an article 
headed, "Battle of the Revolution." From the account there given 
there does not appear to have been any battle at all, or any act of 
violence; and the " zealous j^atriots" were foiled of their purpose. 
It appears to have been written with very imperfect information of 



8H 

what occurred. The facts of the case, as handed down in the fam- 
ily of one of the actors, were about as follows : 

It became known that a stranger was staying at a certain house, 
on tlie Cram Hill, so-called, long ago removed, under suspicious cir- 
cumstances, apparently wishing to keep out of sight ; and it was 
believed that the family was harboring a deserter, who ought to be 
arrested. Now the people of Wilton were aii orderly people, ac- 
customed to act in an orderly manner. Like many towns, they had 
a committee of safety, usually of five good men, chosen regularly 
in town meeting to look after matters hostile to the patriot cause. 
This case claimed their notice, and they attended to their duty. 
They came together in the vicinity of that house, and sent forward 
one of their number, a mild, peaceable neighbor, to call and see if 
the supposed desrrter was within : if so, he was to remain, see to 
the door, and look after the old lady. He remained, and the rest of 
the committee then advanced. On perceiving them, and mistrust- 
ing their object, the inmates of the house made a stir to fasten the 
door, but the peaceable man happened to be in the way, and so con- 
tinued tiU the rest of the committee arrived, and thus gained an 
entrance. The}' proceeded to arrest the supposed deserter, " a stout 
fellow," who was not disposed to be arrestee!. Seizing him, they 
were dragging him out, notwithstanding his strenuous resistance 
and that of a strong muscular daughter (said to have fallen in love 
with him) who hung back at his coat tails ; while the old lady, catch 
ing up the lire slice, was about to throw coals of fire on the heads 
of the committee, but was restrained by the peaceable man, calmly 
begging her " not to do anything rash.'' She, however, is said to 
have got her hands in the hair of some of the committee and to 
have retained a handful. One of the committee is said to have lost 
the cape of his great coat in the struggle : and one of them to have 
h id his cue half torn from his head. What part, if any, the man 
of the house took in the affau- is not stated. 

The committee, having arrested their man, and properly secured 
him, took him for safe keeping over night to the house of one of 
their number, to whose person he is said, for greater security, to 
have been made fast, so that where one went the other would be 
obliged to accompany him. What was done with the man subse- 
quently is not inentioned. Prol)ably he was turned over to the 



87 

military authority, with what result is not now known. We know 
not the year when this affair happened, nor the time of year, except 
as impHed in the mention of the great coat. Many circumstances 
antl occurrences of those times that we would like to know, have in 
the lapse of more than a centur}- been lost to us, locked up forever 
in the dark realms of oblivion. 



CONTRIBUTED BY REV. I. S. LINCOLN. 

On this joyful occasion, after listening, with great interest, to 
many appropriate speeches, wherein were sketched the progress of 
this town within the space of the last century and a half of its ex- 
istence, and also, some of the salient elements, which have largely 
contributed to the productions of its present flourishing condition 
of aflfars, I am deeply impressed with the conviction, which I 
would most gladly impart to all other minds, (viz) ; That the two 
leading and most successful elements, acting as efficient causes in 
shaping the best human character and destiny so as to produce tbe 
best civilization and the largest amount of liappme >s are the Two 
Great Forces — Vital Religion and Sound Education. For the 
spread and triumph of which churches and school-houses are built 
and able teachers and valuable books are provided. Why are these 
most jiowerf ul agencies needed ? Because man's nature and rela- 
tions are such as a child of God, created in his constitutional, im- 
mortal image, with all the attributes of an intelligent, free, moral 
responsible agent, capable of forming a Godlike character in all the 
beauty, worth and glory of holiness. To accomplish this object, 
both religion and education must come to man's aid, to render him 
in the highest degree, good and happy, in all his relations to God 
and his great universe — ia all his acjj^uisitio.is and uses of things, 
over which, his rightful dominion extends. Thus aided and guided. 

The above Address), for the lack of time, was not delivered at the time of the Celebra- 
tion, but the Author, who has long resided in this town, and is in the 91st vear of his age. Is 
still active and highly enjoys life. This Address appears here, in print, by the request of the 
Town Committee of Wilton. 



88 

no matter how ranch property, represented by money, or in any 
thing else, which money will buj', religion will increase their value 
and make them more enjoyable. 

Now this will be manifest, when we consider what religion is, 
in its true nature and in its legitimate place and fruits, as best il- 
lustrated in historic Christianity, and in the perfectlj^ lioly life of its 
great Divinely-inspired Founder, and, when we also consider what 
education is, as it is jnesented to us, in its various branches and 
grades in our good school system, from the primary department 
up to the complete univei'sity. What is religion in its characteristic 
elements ? As an organic Divine Law, including all the forms of 
duty obligatory on all moral beings, the performance of wliich is 
productive of holy character, — Religion is Love, revealing itself in 
the exercise of universal benevolence, willing good to every body. 
Hence it has been truly said, "All Holiness consists m Benevo- 
lence." And its exact opp?>site, sm, consists in selfi.slmess. God's 
perfect character and government are founded on conformity to this 
law of Love. This makes him gloiious in holiness, and obedience to 
the same law makes his children shine in all the beauty of holiness. 
In this way only does vital religion bind a loving God and his 
loving children together in the closest and the most happy fellow- 
ship. In support of this statement we have the highest auth rity 
in such sciiptural expressions as these: "Love is the fulfilling of the 
Law, the end of the commandment, the bond of perfectness." On 
these two commandments, love to God and love to man, Christ says, 
hang all the Law and the prophets, (i. e. ) the whole sum of duty. 
Paul, in his beautiful description of charity, only another name for 
love, makes it the grand indispensible element of moral goodness, 
its soul, without which all else is of little relative worth. John, in 
his Epist., says: "God is Love, and wlioso dwelleth in Love, dwelleth 
in God and God in him. " Hence, v, here this love is Jeft out of 
luiman experience, there is no real religion.. 

One of the saddest cases of total destitution of real religion, on 
record, is exhibited to us in the wicked life, on a large scale, of 
Napoleon Bonaparte of France, as thus described in a brief sentence, 
b}* Wm. Ellery Channing, D.D., in his review of his character and 
life: "A Brain from Heaven, but a Heart from Hell." 



89 

A man of a magnificent intellect, jDossessing great natural and 
acquired talents, but all under tbe supreme control of a selfish, un- 
j)rincii3led heart, out of which he brought forth wicked things in 
great abundance. Like not a few others, he was "Wise to do evil, 
but to do good he seemed to have no knowledge." While, 
bj' these he became a great warrior and emj^eror, they made him 
the most terrific enemy of his race, and the world could not con- 
qvier him until they had learned from his example the great art of 
successful warfare. When they had done so, they tore off his crown 
and banished him from the throne of France and made him a 
prisoner in his lonely sea girt isle, a sad but merited fate. Such 
cases as this tend to prove the correctness of the folio »ving ex- 
pressed opinion of Horace Mann, once president of Antioch college, 
a great educator, who did. in his day, more than any other man to 
improve and perfect our tine system of education. He says, "It 
seems almost cruel to highly educate, discipline, strengthen and 
increase the power and skill of the intellect, and neglect the holy 
culture of the heart, and leave it under tlie control of unprincipled 
selfishness to carry on a more successful war against the rights and 
interests of others." 

The most a icked, dangerous persons on earth are thooe, who have, 
by unprincipled means, acquired the most power, and use it to in- 
jure others, to enrich self or sel.'s clique or party. What a contrast 
between the course of the life of Bonaparte and its results and that 
of the truly religious person. With an all loving God most loved, 
religion harnesses all the great forms and foi'ces of good into the 
service of God's loving, loyal children, and thus the great Divine 
promise is verified. 

•'All things work together for good to them that love God." 
Thus where religion becomes a matter of personal experience it 
generates a large capacity to derive eujo^'ment from all innocent 
enjoyable forms of good that come within the range of human 
knowledge, where they are and as they are — in the possession of 
others as realh' as those in his own own sole personal possession. 
In this way wicked selfishness will be banished from the heart, 
and temptation will lose its controlling power to use wrong methods 
to obtain good from others. For, by having and using this large 



90 

and ever increasing capacity, the religious man can enjoy a vast 
amount of happiness from countless forms of good while they remain 
in the possession of others. Thus the amount of his enjoyment is im- 
mensly greater than the man's who is destitute of religious experi- 
ence, even though he may count his possessions by the millions. 

While vital religion justh' claims the right to stand at the head 
of all forces, acting as causes, it cheerfully welcomes education as a 
powerful co-operative force, second only to itself. Each has much 
to do with words, with their construction into sentences, and with the 
interpretation of the real meaning they contain. The union of these 
two forces is indispensible to the highest success of each in doing good. 
Religion and education are both contained and come to use in words and 
their influence reaches us through this medium. Education asks 
and answers the question. What is the meaning of religion, which 
come to us locked up in words, which are the hfe-preservers of re 
ligious thought and influence from age to age forever? This has 
long been done in the past up to the present in words spoken, 
heard, written, printed and sung. Through this medium the Lord 
Jesus Christ and his apostles communicated the Gospel of salvatiou 
to our world in long ages past. 

Education has much to do by the way of exposing and dispelling the 
numerous clouds of error that have so long, more or less, enveloped 
religion, and thus it has let in the clear glorious sunlight of truth, 
which has warmed into life and evelasting growth, the whole family 
of noble and ennobling virtues. Thus education may help remove 
obstructions and open the way for pure religion to enter into human 
experience, and make individuals and society in the largest degree 
prosperous in getting and using all forms of desirable good. While 
it may be true that gain is not godhness, it is a great form of truth 
that "godliness — serving God — is great gain, profitable unto all 
things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which 
is to come.'' 

With these expressed views correspond those of the distinguished 
Christian educator, the late Horace Mann, when he said : •'Man is 
a miserable orphan and wanderer till he finds a God and a Father 
in whom to confide." And so do they correspond with the religious 
views of New Hampshire's greatest son, Daniel Webster, whose 



91 

views may be most fittingly quoted here. ' His eloquent words are: 
'•Heligion is that tie which connects man with his Creator and 
binds him to His throne. An indispensible element in every 
great human character. If this tie be sundered, all broken, 
man floats away a worthless atom in the universe, its proper attrac- 
tion all gone, his destiny thwarted, and his whole future nothing but 
darkness, desolation and death." Holy and happy forever are all 
those who know from experience what this tie of religion is and the 
infinite hope it inspires. 



'•■ill^Uluui 



ANTIQUARIAN KOOM. 



One of the most attractive and unique things in connection with 
(he celebration was the library room of the town hall, which was 
for the day fitted up as a " museum of antiquity." 

The suggestion for such aii exhibit came from Mrs. Harvey A. 
Whiting ; the actual work of soliciting and collecting material and 
fitting up the rooms was not commenced in earnest until the Tues- 
day previous. 

The Committee in chaige consisted of Mrs. E. Putnam Dascomb, 
Mrs. Chas. H. Burns, Mrs. W. W. Curtis, H. H. Livermore, and L. 
C. Barnes. 

The raison d' etre of the collection was found in the fact that an 
intermission of two hours was expected between the morning and 
afternoon exercises, and the supposition was that not all could be 
provided with seats at the first setting of the collation table, so to 
supply a diversion to those who were obliged to wait, the room was 
provided. 

Following this idea, the intention was not to open the rooms 
until the morning exercises were over : but, owing to the large number 
of people who were unable to obtain admission to the hall, the 



y2 



committee expedited matters so they were able to tlii'ow open the 
doors at 11 o'clock, thus furnishing those who were disaj^pointed 
with something only less enjoyable thaii the speeches. 

The display was so large that the major part of the library was 
taken up with extemporized tables, show cases, spinning wheels, 
etc. Hvmg around the waUs and back of the tables were embroi- 
dered bed quilts, which gave a very pretty background. There 
were many of these bed spreads, aU very old, but in good preser- 
vation, which represented monuments of industry and skill at 
needle work. Those which deserve special notice are : 

1. One deep red quilt, designed by the Rev. Jonathan Liver- 
more, m imitation of scroll work. It is known to be 120 years old. 

2. One loaned by Mrs. O. J. Lewis, which was made of very fine 
patchwork, of red and green, on a white ground and quilted in fine 
designs, resembling a Marseilles spread. 

3. A handsome bed spread, woven by Betsey Blanchard, has 
jjassed its hiuidi'edth year. 

Other articles which were handed down from the family of Jona- 
than Livermore, consisted of the dress worn by Mrs. Dascomb : 
part of the costume worn by Mr. H. H. Livermore ; saddle and 
pillion and saddle bags used by the Doctor over 120 years ago, 
looking rather the worse for wear ; a bible 152 years old, which the 
reverend gentleman used, and his christening robe, dating from 
1770. 

Among the many valuable andcui'ious relics with which the room 
was fiUed, the display of Jacob Putnam was especially interesting, 
because they came from the first settled farm in town. The present 
occupant of the place belongs to the fourth generation, and the 
name Jacob appears in three of them. The orijfiual o,vner of the 
implements was the great grandfather of the Putnam who contrib- 
uted the articles and now owns the farm. 

The tools consisted of a keyhole saw, probably the first of the 
kind ever in Wilton ; an old bitstock made entirely of hard wood, 
in as good condition apparently as it was when first made : bits to 
go Avith the brace ; two turnmg chisels, a swingeing knife and flax 
hatchel, a compass and candle stick one hundred years old. 

A large flax wheel, in perfect condition, having two combers, one 



coarse and one fine, with flax on it all ready to spin, stood in the 
corner. This wheel and an easy chaii- 130 years old was made by 
the original Jacob Putnam, with the very tools just enumerated. 

One other article from the farm deserves especial mention, the 
so-called tithing stick. It is of turned hard wood, two feet long 
and two inches in diameter, with an iron cap on one end. It was 
used in the olden times by the tithing man, Jacob Putnam, 2d, to 
preserve order in church and other public gatherings. The gavel 
of modern times seems to be its descendant. The stick on exhi- 
bition is 150 years old. 

L. J. Nutting contributed a muTor now entering the third cen- 
tury of its existence. The frame is well decorated, aud glass clear 
and good. Also, a curious material formation in which a common 
tree fungus has cemented three good sized stones firmly together. 

E. F. Peekins gave a cider mug 200 years of age. It is so col- 
ored and gotten up as to represent a man seated in aa armchair in 
old-fashioned costume, three cornered hat, etc. 

Mrs. S. J. LovEYOY had a 200 year-old wine glass, which shows 
the modern article to be no improvement on the ancient. Also a 
pau" of small solid silver salt spoons, a century and a half old. 

W. H. LivERMORE contributed some Colonial money, the oldest 
pieces of which was dated 1744. 

Henry Gray showed an ii'on mortar, which originally was brought 
from England in 1637 by Wm. Chandler. Though showing the 
effect of use it is in good jDreservation, except one edge which is 
slightly broken. And a paii' of balances, having scoop on one side 
and basket on the other, used by Nat Sawyer when he opened a 
store here in 1796. 

MosES Lovejoy displayed an Enghsh straight backed chair, which 
has been in this country since 1803. 

Benjamin Hopkins brought in a revolutionary musket over 6 feet 
long. 

Luther Baldwin's place contributed an old-fashioned, long- 
handled frying pan. 

G. E. Hartwell, an old rocking chair made in 1734. 

Geo. O. Whiting, a hammered copper coffee urn once owned by 
the Duke of Kent, Queen Victoria's father. This article though 100 



yenrs old is very beautiful and artistic. Also a carved old-fasliioned 
chair, 200 yeai's old. 

Mrs. D. E. Proctor had the first low, round table ever in Lynde- 
boro. It Avas made in the year of the Declaration of Independence. 
Also loortraits of Mr. and Mrs. Beuj. Goodi'ich, grandfather and 
g-randmother of Mrs. Procter, 

Mrs. Elmira Dascomb furnished a 200 year-old extension candle- 
stick. 

A. A. Kamsey brought in a standai'd weight of Ireland dated 1718. 

Wm. Abbot, a surgical knife with ivory handle obtained from Dr. 
E. Rockwood, and originally taken from the Hessians in the Revo- 
lution. 

Calvin Lewis brought a very ancient wai'ming pan. 

A large vai'iety of ladies' garments which once belonged to the 
grandmothers of this generation was to be seen ; the imi^lements 
for tue working and spinning of flax and wool ; wheels, cards, 
swingeing knives, etc.: many chairs that date back into colonial 
times ; tools of aU kinds ; a large variety of very antique china 
ware, books, linen shawls, lanterns, etc. 

The General Miller, Liveimore and Abbot famihes brought in 
many valuable heiilooms. 

Other articles deserving special mention are : A copy of the first 
news paper of the country, dated 1704, by Mr. J. W. Stiles; sev- 
eral revolutionary army commissions framed ; copy of a letter 
written in 1772 by Bocachias Abbot of Andover : a model of the 
original church of the place made by Heniy Holt from material 
taken from the ruins in 1860 ; twin wax dolls, life size, from the 
General Miller homestead — these took the first prize at the Paris 
Exposition, lOl) years ago; — a 1756 rocking chair, old fashioned 
but in good condition; an ai-m chair with which Maj. Abiel Abbott 
began house-keeping in 1764 ; a handsome gilt mirror, 100 years 
old. and an anticjue tobacco box and pipe holder, both the pro- 
perty of Mrs. W. H. Barnes; a large number of warming pans 
and foot stoves ; some silver spoons made from the sword of Capt. 
John Thurston of 1812 fame; a hundred year-old pijie; an an- 
tique silver watch as large as an ordmary clock of to-day ; a rough 
clored glass vase made in North Lyndeboro by Rev. B. F. Clark in 
1820 ; an ancient outline portrait of Dr. !\Ioses Atwood, the first 



95 

homeopathic physician of New Hampshire; Deacon John Good- 
riche's first suit of clothes, very odd ; Pewter plates and platter 
made by the grandfather of Abby Abbot, 150 years ago ; a pau- of 
spectacles, old enough, (150 years), to wear glasses; some beauti- 
ful linen embroidery done with a quill by Mrs. Geo. B. Preble's 
mother ; an English ale jug — American since the revolution ; — an 
80 year-old doll, strange and comical in size, color and dress ; the 
first Bible ever in Wilton; ear jewels of 1778; bridle rugs, cuff 
buttons, 150 years old; a handsome display of table linen in the 
process of manufacture; fliax laised on Deacon Abbot's farm; a 
suit of clothes worn by Dr. A. A. Livermore when a boy, show- 
ing by several addittions to the length the rapid growth of the 
youth ; carved cane made of the jaw of a whale taken in the Arctic 
regions, property of E. F. Perkins. 

To make the rooms more realistic of the olden times the ladies in 
charge were dressed in old fashioned costume. 

Mrs. Putnam Dascomb wore a dress which has been handed down 
through the Livermore family from the wife of Jonathan Livermore, 
It is made of brocade satin, very dark red in color, full skirted and 
long waisteJ, as befitted a minister's wife of that time. 

Mrs. W. W. Curtis in black satin, pompadour hau", high comb 
and white lace cape with muslin ruff represented the wife of our 
first President in feature as well as dress. 

Mrs. C. H. Burns looked very old fashioned in her chintz dress 
with mutton leg sleeves and wearing a calash. 

Ml". H. H. Livermore assisted, di-essed in Court costume. 

The rooms were so attractive that large crowds lingered there all 
clay, and to accomodate those who were unable to examine things 
on Thursday, the rooms were kept open the next day. 

Altogether it proved a" complete success, and doubtless many 
unspoken as well as spoken thanks went out toward those whose 
industry produced in such a short time so large and valuable a col- 
lection of relics. 

A complete description is impossible, but enough has been said 
to satisfy all who did not see it that it was an excellent collection 
and that they have lost a golden ojjportunity. 

For those who did have the pleasm-e of seeing it any description 
is superfluous. It is graven on their memories as an hour spent in 



y() 

the atmosphere of the 18th century ; so the attempts and accomj^lish- 
ments of our ancestors, their ability to surmount obstacles and pro- 
duce things of lasting worth, are brought rapidly home to us. 

Note. For much of the material used in writinj? this acoount thanks are due to 
Mr. Frank Lund whose full notes have been kindly put at our disposal. 



CONCERT. 

A full house gi-eeted the artists who came from Boston to finish 
the exercises of the day by giving us some fine music. The persons 
taking part were : 

81GNOR RoNCONi, a renowned flutist and Buffo Opera singer, who 
is a member of the Listemann Concert Company. Signor Ronconi 
made his reputation as a vocalist and flutist in Europe before com- 
ing to America. His first vocal master was the the teacher of Chris- 
tin(i Nillson. The gentleman has a finely cultivated deep bass voice, 
and his performance on the flute is marvelous. 

Miss Stella Bonhuer is an American young lad}^ now studying 
vocal music under Signor Ronconi. Her soprano voice is one of 
great range and sweetness. 

Miss A. P. LovELAND is one of Boston's finest pianists. A number 
of Wilton people have had an opportunity previous to the concert of 
enjoying her wonderful power over the piano. Superb execution 
and deep artistic appreciation unite in her. 

It is needless, as it is impossible, to gi,ve a satisfactory account 
of the entertainment. Enough to say the audience by their re- 
peated encores showed their rich appreciation of their efforts. The 
following is the program without the encores which were six in num- 
ber : 

1. Piano Solo, Minuet by Padaranski 

Miss A. P. Loveland. 

2. Echo Song, Bishop 

Stella Bonhuer. 
Flute obligato, Signor G. B. Ronconi. 



97 



3. Munnuiing Breezes, Jensen 

Miss Loveland. 

4. I feai- no foe, Pinsuti 

Bass song, Signor Ronconi. 

5. Pattison Waltz Song, 

Stella Bonheur. 

6. Fantasie Melancolique, Reichert 

Flute Solo, Signor Koneoni. 
» 7. Lullaby from " Erminie," 

Stella Bonheur. 

8. Leperello from " Madammina," Mozart 

Signor Ronconi. 

9. Piano Rondo, John Field, 

Miss Loveland. 

10. Duet from " L'Eliser d'Amore, 

Stella Bonheur and Signor Ronconi. 

The following young ladies were present dressed in antique cos- 
tume : Miss Mabelle Emerson, Miss Grace Blanchard, Mrs. M. Park- 
hurst, the Misses Lulie Blanchard, Mary Proctor, Nettie Putnam, 
Gussie Putnam, Stella Beard, Fanny Whiting, Blanche Burns, Bertha 
Lund. 

These young ladies, with Mr. L. C. Barnes as escort, occujDied re- 
served seats near the stage and formed a picturesque group and 
gave us, of the present day, an opportunity to see the styles in vogue 
in the days of our great grandmothers. 



APPEiNDlX. 



It may be well for the committee to mention a few facts for the 
benefit of those who come after and celebrate the 200th anniversary. 

First, There was no appropriation made by the town to defray 
the expenses of the celebration, which was thought by many at the 
time to be a great mistake, and your committee shared that feeling 
until they got fairly to work, when they found that something be- 
sides money was necessary to make the occasion a success. It be- 
ing understood on the start that no money was raised every one 
whose services were needed went to work in earnest and gave freely 
of their time and talents for the success of the coming event. A 
few expenses were incurred, and those were more than met by the 
evening concert given by Miss Loveland and others from Boston, 
and Vkhich proved a very pleasant and profitable ending of the daj'. 

The collation for such an occasion is the most difficult of all to ar 
range. The idea of soliciting food and making the dinner free was 
first thought of by the committee, but it was soon found that too 
much labor would fall upon a few ; then again to give a free dinner 
to everybody that came seemed almost too much even for a gener- 
ous town like ours. The plan of securing a caterer and charging 
25 cents per plate was finally settled upon, and we think not only 
proved fairly profitable to the caterers but (juite satisfactory to 
those who partook of the dinner. 

The celebration was one that our town may well be proud of, and 
the success was due to the generous suppoi't and interest of not only 
those who took part in the exercises of the day but also the citizens 
generally who aided and assisted by their hearty cooperation. 

H. A. WHITING, for the Committee. 



99 

SUB-COMMITTEES. 

The sub-committees, not ali'eady mentioned, appointed by the 
Executive Committee were as follows: 

On Music. — Willis H. Abbott, chairman and conductor ; Warren 
Jones, John D. Wilson, Charles A. Burns, A. Dwight Abbott, 
David Stevens, Harry P. Ring. 

On Decorations, — Albert Beard and wife ; S. K. Foster and wife. 

On Reception, — F. M. Pevey, Isaac S. Whiting. 



WILTON BRASS BAND. 

The Wilton Brass Band which furnished gratuitously excellent 
music on the occasion of the anniversary was made up as follows : 
Azel P. Brigham, leader ; Thomas Cooley, cb"um major ; Albert A. 
Hartwell, G. Herbert Hartwell, Fred E. Bennett, Andrew Fletcher, 
Chas. B. Smith. Elmer E. Richardson, Harry P. Ring, Harry A. 
Powers, Dennis Hurley, John Giles, John R. Mac Kay, Walter M. 
Bales. Wm. J. HoUilian Michael Cullinau, Nathan A. Cragin, Frank 
W". Lund, John Sullivan, Samuel M. Upton, Orren S. Chandler, Dallas 
Sumner, John R. Sheldon, George Hood, Warren E. Foster. It was 
organized in 1857, and now has 25 members. 

CHORUS 

The chorus, furnishing vocal music in the Hall, was as follows : 

Sopranos. — Mrs. A. O. Barker, Mrs. G. W. Hatch, Mrs. George 
Whiting, Mrs. Frank H. Pornitt, Miss Hattie S. Perkins, Miss Jose- 
phine H. Gage. 

Altos. — Mrs. Harris Abbott, Mrs. W. C. Jones. Mrs. Wm. Berry, 
Miss Hattie L. Putnam, Miss Annie V. Tyler. 

Tenors. — Andrew Fletcher, David Stevens, Chas, E. Edwards, A. 
Dwight Abbott, Ellery Hutchinson. 

Bassos. — Warren Jones, Harry P. Ring, Frank Porritt, Chas. A. 
Burns, Stanley H. Abbott. 

Pianist. — Mrs. C. A. Bnrns. 

Conductor. — Willis H. Abbott. 



100 

LETTERS OF REGRET. 



luvitations to be present at the exercises of the day were sent to 
Francis (i. Peabod}', D. D., son of the orator at the Centennial cele- 
bration ; to Rev. S. B. Stevvai't, grandson of Eev. Thomas Beede, 
one of Wilton's early pastors, and to Col. Thos. L. Liverniore. The 
invitations were sent by Rev. A. A. Liverinore, at the request of the 
executive committee, and appended are the replies 



LETTER OF REV. F. G. PEABODY. 

Bar Harbor, Me., Sept. 13th. 
My Dear Cousin : — Your kind invitation to the Wilton celebration 
reaches me unfortunately on the evening of the day j'ou name. It 
would be a pleasure to me, and no doubt to my mother and sister, 
to be with you if it were possible, and I shall be glad if you will 
express to your committee our thanks for your remembrance. I 
trust that the occasion has been in all respects haiDpy and success- 
ful. Believe me always sincerely yours. 

Francis G. Peabody. 



LETTER OF REV. S. B. STEWART. 

Lynn, Mass.. Sept. 11, 1889. 

Dear Dr. Livermore : — In answer to your very kind invitation 
from the Centennial Committee to attend the Wilton celebration 
to-morrow, I very much regret my inability to be present. But I 
cannot resist a sense of pride, pardonable I trust, in having the root- 
lets of my life somewhat fed from the springs and fortunes of this 
noble old town. 

Whatever my grandfather, Thomas Beede, may have contributed 
to the intellectual and spiritual life of the town, I shall always be- 
lieve that there were equal happy, reciprocal influences from the 
many good andtrue people and families, where he lived for so many 



101 

years, that have descended to his children and grandchildren, for 
which they will always be most grateful, and on account of which 
they will always hold the town's fortunes and traditions in most 
affectionate remembrance. 

Very sincerely, 

Samuel Baekett Stewart. 



LETTER OF COL. TH08. L. LIVERMORE. 

Boston, Sept IGth, 1889. 
Dear Cousin : — I am much obliged to you for yovu-kind invitation 
of last week. I thought when I received it that if a little more 
notice had been given me I shordd have been glad to come to the 
celebration, but it would not have availed me because I had to stay 
at home on the 12th for other reasons. I trust that the bad 
weather did not jDrevent a very g-ood time. 

Yoiu's faithfully, 

Thos. L. Livermore. 



THE EVEEETT HOUSE. 

The popular landlord of the Everett House, Mr. Starr B. Center, 
made a special effort to please the patrons of his house, and pre- 
pared a neat menu card, on the front of which were the words : 

1739. 1889. 

150th 

ANNIVERSARY DINNER. 

Everett House. Wilton, N. H. 

A wood cut of a log cabin adorned the front of the card, while 
the back had a cut of the present commodious hotel. Tiie house was 
quite extensively decorated throughout. One hundred guests as- 
sembled around the tables and partook of the following 



102 



Chicken Soup. 



Mashed Potatoes. 
Green Corn. 

Onions. 



MENU. 

Escalloped Oysters. 
Broiled Spring Chicken. 
Vegetables. 

Sweet Potatoes. 
Stewed Tomatoes. 
Cucumbers. 
Relishes. 
Worcestershire Sauce. 

Pastry. 
Meat Pie. Apple Pie. Squash Pie. 

Coflfee Gelatine with Cream. 

Ice Cream. Cake. 

Lemon. Vanilla. Spong-e. Lily- 

Fkuits. 

Muskmelon. Watermelon. Bananas. 

Milk. Coffee. 



Roast Beef. 

Turnip. 
Celery. 
Squash. 

Cranberry Sauce. 
Snow Puddin"-. 



Apples. 
Tea. 



THE WILTON OF TO-DAY. 

TOWN CjFFICERS. 

In order to connect this account with the town history, we give 
the town officers for 1888 and 1889. 



For 1888. 
Selectmen, 

James Sheldon, 

Chas. E. Barrett, 

Geo. M. Hartshorn. 
Town Clerk, John F. Mahoney. 
Town Treasurer, D. E. Proctor. 
Tax Collectoi-, Frank M. Lund. 

Board of Education, 
Geo. E. Bales, 
P. Ring, 
Mrs. L. C. Barnes. 



For 1889. 
Selectmen, 
James Sheldon. 
John B. Hickey, 
Richard M. Moore. 
. Town Clerk, L. C. Barnes. 
Town Treasurer, Geo. E. Bales. 
Tax Collector. Henr}- H. Stickney. 
Board of Education, 
Geo. E. Bales, 
Mrs. L. C. Barnes, 
Willis H. Abbott. 



io;5 

The town sent as delegate to the convention to revise the State 
Constitution, C. A. Bales. 

The Postmaster at Wilton is Alfred E. Jacques, who has held the 
OiHce for fourteen years ; the Postmaster at West Wilton is Henry 
O. Sargent. 

The office of Deputy Sheiiff is tilled by Mo.ses Clark, who has 
occupied the position for twenty- seven years. 

The Representatives to the Legislature since the publication of 
the history axe : 1887, Dr. Josiah Fleeman ; 1889, Geo. I. Doe. 



THE BUSINESS MEN OF THE TOWN. 

The Wdtou Savings Bank. — E. G. Woodman, President ; Geo. E. 
Bales, Treasurer. 

Clothing and Furnishing Goods. — Geo. W. W^allace, E. F. Per- 
kins. 

Drugs and Medicines. — Henry Trevitt, M. D., H. A. Powers. 

Dry Goods, Fancy Goods, Boots and Shoes. — S. N. Center & Son, 
A. C. Young. 

Boots and Shoes. — F. M. Lund. 

Groceries and General Stores. — D. E. Proctor, A. O. Barker, S. N. 
Center, 2d, M. P. Stanton. 

Meat and Vegetables. — S. H. Dunbar, James Shea. 

Millinery and Fancy Goods., — Miss S. A. Smith. 

Stoves, Tinware and Plumbing. — S. K. Fostei-, W. H. Bearisto. 

King's Ambrosia Co. — H. P. Ring. 

Livery Stables. — Joseph Langdell, Eli J. Curtis. 

Harness Makers. — Lewis Tingley, E. J Curtis. 

Undertakers. — W. H. Barnes, H. H. Stickney, Henry N. Blanchard. 

Express. — American, Northern. 

Photograj^her. — F. E. Bugbee. 

Printing. — H. P. Ring, H. A. Smith. 

Builders" supplies. — D. E. Proctor. 

Watch Maker and Repairer. — H. A . > mith. 

Hair Cutting. — Frank F. Duval, H. A. Smith, F. M. Lovejoy. 



104 

Shoemakers and Repairers. — F. M. Lund. 8. Hutchinson, Edmn 
Kidder, David Lovejoy. 
Auctioneer. — R. J. Frye. 



INDUSTRIES OF THE TOWN. 

In order that the business of the town at the time of the cele- 
bration may be briefly reviewed as a whole, we simply enumerate 
the (hiierent manufactures and trades, the details being given in the 
History of Wilton. 

Colony Brothers, manufactuiers of flannels and dress goods. 

Low & Rewell, machinists, manfacture self-wringing mops, Web 
ster's elastic tug. etc. 

Levi Putnam, saw mill, planing machine and turning lathe, manu- 
factures trunks and trunk stock. 

\V. N. Patterson & Son, grist mill, and manufacture plows, culti- 
vators and saw horses. 

Daniel Cragin, manufacturer of knife trays, dry measures and 
sugar boxes. 

Nathan Barker, cider mill, planing and matching machine. 

Herman Hopkins, saw mill, clapboard and shingle machinery and 
turning lathe ; makes rakes. 

Henry H. Livermore, saw mill, shingle and stave machinery. 

James H. Holt & Son. manufacture knobs and milk can stopples ; 
also have a cider mill. 

Henry O. Sargent, saw mill and turning machinery. 

Samuel W. Smith manufactures knobs. 

Roselvo A. Smith saws staves. 

Hopkins & French manufacture fancy boxes and writing desks. 

D. Whiting & Sons, milk and cream contractors, creamery butter 
makers ; grain, lumber, wood and coal dealers ; slave and box man- 
ufacturers ; farmers. 

Wheelwi'ights and carriage makers. — Flint & Gray, A. J. Parker, 
Nathan Cragin. 



105 

Blacksmiths and Carriage smiths. — Bales & Putnam, H. N. Gray 
& Sod, C. B. Smith. 

Cari3enters. — H. L. Emerson, James L. Hardy, Wm. D. Stearns, 
Jeremiah DriscoU, Isaac Brothers, L. A. Tyler, E. D. Frye, J. H. 
Hutchinson. 

Brick and stone masons. — Joel Hesselton, Chas. Hesselton. 

Brick masons. — John Gage, Judson Hartshorn. 

Stone masons and stone cutters. — Elijah Putnam, James R. Das- 
comb, John R. Sheldon, I. N. Hutchinson. 

House painters. — Dallas Sumner, Geo. Hartwell, Orreu Russell, H. 
N. Blanchard, Wm. A. Burton, Thos. Cooley, Geo. Hopkins. 

Carriage painter. — A.. P. Brigham. 



SECRET SOCIETIES AND FRATERNITIES. 

Clinton Lodge, No. 52, A. F. & A. M. — Masonry seems to have 
been established very early in the town, and the history of the early 
lodges is given in detail in the town history. The present lodge 
was established in 1829. The officers for 1889 are as follows : 

John F. Smith, master : Warren P. Putnam, senior warden ; David 
E. Proctor, junior warden ; Henrj' L. Emerson, treasurer ; John 
Gage, secretary ; Cyrus M. Ingalls, senior deacon ; Chas. A. Burns, 
junior deacon ; Geo. W. Hatch, M. D., chaplain ; Edmund P. Hutch- 
inson, marshal ; Arthur C. Young, senior steward ; Wm. ^McLaughlin, 
junior steward : Lorenzo Quade, representative to Grand Lodge ; 
Calvin H. Lewis, tyler. The society has a membership of sixty-nine 
at present. 

Wilton Lodge. No. 2563, Knights of Honor, instituted Sept. 29, 
1889. Officers — William H. Barnes, dictator ; William D. Stearns, 
treasurer ; George W. Wallace, financial reporter ; David E. Proc- 
tor, reporter. 

Laurel Lodge, No. 78, I. O. O. F. — This lodge was instituted 
April 18th, 1889, with seven charter members, and now numbers 



106 

over thirty members. The officers for the present term are : George 
E. Hartwell, noble grand ; R. M. Moore, vice grand ; W. B. Hopkins, 
secretary ; S. M. Upton, treasurer ; D. A. Stiles, warden ; M. J. Her- 
lihy, conductor ; W. E. Foster, chaplain ; A. J. Rideout, past grand. 
Forest Colony, No. 125, Pilgrim Fathers, instituted June 24th. 
1889, with thii'ty cliarter members. Officers — Chas. A. Burns, gov- 
ernor ; Marcella Hatch, lieutenant governor ; Helen M. Putnam, 
secretary ; Frank W. Lund, collector ; Fred W. Clark, treasurer ; 
Ella F. Curtis, chaplain ; Frank P. Martin, sergeant at arms ; Ehnira 

E. Martin, deputy sergeant at arms ; Naomi F. Stickney, inside sen- 
tinel ; Hem-y H. Stickney, outside sentinel; Geo. E. Bah-s, ex- 
governor. 

Abiel A. Live'iuore Post, No. 71, G. A. R., Department of New 
Hampshire was organized September 6th, 1883, with seventeen 
charter members. The records now give a membership of thirty- 
four. The present officers of the post are Henry L. Emerson, com- 
mander ; Sanford M. Aver}', senior vice-commander ; Wju. D. 
Stearns, junior vice-commander ; D. I' . Proctor, adjutant : John 
Gage, quartermaster ; James R. Dascomb, surgeon ; George W. 
Parker, chaplain ; Thos. Carter, officer of the day ; Orren P. Rus 
sell, officer of the guard ; Lucius A. Way, sergeant major ; John R. 
Sheldon, quartermaster sergeant. 

David E, Proctor, Camp No. 43. Sons of Veterans, organized May 
14, 1889, with 14 charter members. Following is the list of officers : 
Edward W. Lawrence, captain; Frank E. Pioctor, first lieutenant; 
Wm. F. Easton, second lieutenant ; Walter G. Parker, chaplain ; 
Wm H. Emerson, first sergeant ; Horace B. Cook, quartermaster 
sergeant ; John J. Sullivan, sergeant of the guard ; Patrick B. Mc- 
Carthy, color sergeant ; Jeremiah McCarthy, principal musician ; 
Mort'in F. Hutchinson, corporal of the guard : Alfred E. Johnson, 
camp guard ; John H McCarthy, picket guaid. 

Abiel A. Livermore Woman's Relief Corps, No. 52, organized 
Dec. 6, 1888. Officers; Mrs. Mary J. Hartwell, president: Mrs. 
Abbie A. Emerson, senior vice president ; Mrs. Fannie M. Stickney, 
junior vice president : Mrs. Eliza J. Nhaw, secretary ; Mis. Susan 

F. Gage, treasurer ; Mrs. Helen I. Russell, chaplain ; Mrs. Margie 
C. Butters, conductor; Miss Mary E. Pioctor, assistant conductor; 



107 

Mrs. Hattie J. May, guard; Mrs. Emma C. Nutting, assistant guard. 
Tliere are now thirty-nine nanjes on the records. 

Advance Grange, No. 20, Patrons of Husbandry. This Grange 
was founded Feb. 20, 1874, with a full complement — thirty mem- 
bers. The present membership numbers seventy seven. The offi- 
cers are, James Sheldon, master ; Stanley H. Abbott, overseer ; 
Wills H. Abbott, lecturer; Perley J. Abbott, steward; A. H. Gold- 
smith, assistant steward ; Geo. S. Fowler, chaplain ; Gardner 
Blanchard, treasurer ; Mis. A. D. Abbott, secretary ; \Vm. Berry, 
gate keeper ; Mrs. H. Hopkins, Ceres : Mrs. C. H. White, Pomona ; 
Mrs. Henry Gray, Flora; Mrs. Jennie Potter, lady assistant steward. 

Besides the societies already mentioned, there is in town a Ladies 
Reading Club, whose meetings are of a literarj^ and musical char- 
acter. 



PROFESSIONAL MEN. 

Physicians.— Henry Trevitt, Geo. W. Hatch, B. F. Greene, C. E. 
Higgins. 

Dentists.— P. M. Pevey, W. Y. McGown. 

Lawyers. — George E. Bales, attorney and counsellor at law, notar}'- 
public, Chas. H. Burns, coaiisel for Boston & Maine Railroad, has 
a law office in Nashua, but resides in Wilton. 

Clergymen. — Rev. I. S. Lincoln, for a long time pastor of the 
Unitarian Church, now retired ; Rev. T. O. Harlow, pastor of Baptist 
Church at Wilton Center ; Rev. Father E. E. Buckle, pastor of 
Catholic Church. 



CHURCHES. 



The Liberal Christian Church, The Second Congregational, and 
the CathoHc, are the churches in the village proper. At Wilton 
Centre there is the First Congregational (Unitarian), and the Bap- 
tist Church. 



108 
SCHOOLS. • 

There are in Wilton nine schools, of which four are gi-adecl. The 
schools in the village were graded in 1887, at which time a High 
School Course was arranged, which has since been somewhat modi- 
fied and enlarged. The class of "88, numbering ten, was the first to 
be i-egularly graduated and to receive diplomas. In the winter of 
1889 a com-se of lectures was given for the benefit of the High 
School, and the proceeds were devoted to the pm'chase of api:)aratus. 
Consequently the school now has a fair lot of physical apparatus, 
by the use of which the principles of modern science may be well 
shown. The course of study covers a period of three years, and 
embraces most of the studies usually found in an ordinary High 
School, but of course cannot in so short a time fit for college; this 
^s one of the jjossibilities of the future. The scattered population 
in the districts outside the village proper, renders a graded system 
there a practical impossibility. The schools are in charge of com- 
petent teachers, and good work is done in them all There are nine 
teachers, and the total enrollment of pupils is 317. The appropria- 
tion available for school puposes was, for the fiscal year ending 
March 1st, $8,000.00. The teachers are as follows : 

High School, Chas. W. Marshall. Grammar School, Clara H. 
Blood. Intermediate School, M. Grace Blanchard. Primary School, 
Emma F. Robertson. West Wilton, Hannah J. Herlihy. Davis- 
ville. Bertha L. Blood. Wilton Centre, Lulie S. Blanchard. Abbott 
Hill, Nellie S. Hobbs. French Village. Ida M. Kmiball. 



PUBLIC LIBRARY. 



BY D. E. PROCTOR. 



The Wilton Public Library was organized in 1872, with its r():)nis 
in the Savings Bank Building and Miss Persis Barrett as librarian. 
It gave the town ex<'ellent service until the disastrous fire of Dec. 
2, 1874, when it was nearly destroved. It however rose from its 



109 

ashes by the kindly assistance of friends and insurance and con- 
tinued its good work until Jan. 20, 1881, when the fire fiend again 
visited it, and nothing was left except the few books which were in 
circulation. Later these books and some trust funds were placed in 
the hands of a Board of Trustees, consisting of the Hon. Charles H. 
Burns, Rev. J. J. Twiss, Miss Persis Barrett, I. S. Whiting, and D 
E Proctor. A library room has been fitted with all the modern im- 
provements in the Town Hall, and at the last annual meeting in 
March, 1889, the town voted an appropriation of ($500) five hundred 
dollars for necessary furniture and fixtiu'es, books and other ex- 
penses. George A. Newell of Boston, a son of this good town has 
kindly presented the library with one thousand volumes of new and 
standard books. 

The Ladies' Reading Club, an oi'ganization of our most highly edu- 
cated ladies, have promised about five hundred volumes of the 
American Cyclopedia. The Hon. C. H. Burns presents nearly 100 
volumes of standard works. Dr. F. M. Pevey promises the library 
a surprise in the near future, while others are ready to add further 
contributions. The books will be arranged in alcoves — those given 
by Mr. Newell to be the " Newell Alcove ;" those by the Reading 
Club to be named as the ladies of the club may designate, while 
blanks will be left for the names of other generous sons or friends 
of Wilton to immortalize themselves and make the library and the 
world better for their kind benefactions. 

Miss Martha Putnam is librarian, and the present Board of Trus- 
tees consists of Hon. C. H. Burns, Isaac S. Whiting, Esq., D. E. 
Proctor, George E. Bales, Esq., and George G. Blanchard. 



STATISTICS. 



The Wilton of to-day is a growing, thriving town. The beautiful 
hills, commanding a view unsurpassed in a State of beautiful scenery, 
entice many from the cities during the heated term, and in conse- 
quence summer homes are being built in different portions of the 



110 

town. Wilton is thus brought more prominently to notice, and if 
once visited is very likely to be a<^ain, for the hills are not the only 
attraction. Pleasant walks and drives reveal nooks of unexpected 
beauty. Prominent among these should be mentioned Barnes' 
Falls — originally, as some claim, called Greeley's Falls — the natural 
charm of which is being enhanced by the eftbrts of Mr. O. J. Lewis, 
who has recently come into possession of this property. Thus Wil- 
ton increases in population and favor. The i^opulatiou to day is' in 
the vicinity of '2,000, although only approximate figures can be 
given ; but it is thought that the census will show rather more than 
the above estimate. The number of registered voters is 4 16, and 
the total valuation is $897,618 This sum, according to the last 
Town Report, is distributed as follows : 









VALUE 




Numb 


er polls, 418, 


$41,800 00 


(> 


horses, 309, 




23,598 


00 


•' 


oxen, 61, 




3.580 


00 


ii, 


cows, 821, 




23.574 


00 


i. 


neat stock,154. 




2.702 


00 


(., 


sheep, 97, 




368 


OJ 


u 


hogs, 506, 




. ■ . 3,589 


00 


It 


carriages, 30, 




2,645 


00 


Improved and unimproved land. 


641,385 


00 


Stock 


in public funds, 


23,500 


00 


n 


in banks. 


24,570 


00 


Mone 


\' on hand or at interest, . 


40.857 


00 


Stock 


in trade, 


44,100 


00 


Mills . 


xnd machinery. 


21,350 


00 


The amount of tax collected 


was $14,8 


20.93. This, with $25.82 



collected as interest, gives a total of $14,846.75. 

The principal revenue of the farmer is derived from milk for the 
Boston markets ; price, 24 cents per can of 8 quarts. A few figures 
as to prices on some of the important farm products may not be 
out of place here, and we give them as follows : 

Corn, 50 cents per bushel; white beans, $2 per bushel; j^eas, 
$1.50 per bushel; rye, 75 cents per bushel ; oats, 35 cents per bush. ; 
potatoes, 60 to 70 cents per bushel : butter, 25 cents per tb. ; wood. 



Ill 

$4 per cord ; apples, No. 1, $2 per bbl. ; hay, $15 per ton ; flour, 
winter wheat, $5 per bbl. ; spring wheat, patent, $6 per bbl. ; price 
of farm labor, $20 per month; haying, $2 per day; skilled labor, 
$2 to 13 per day. 

(To show how the relative importance of crops has changed in 50 
3'ears, it may be interesting to note that in our country' corn instead 
of cotton is king, and now our five most valuable crops are corn, 
hay, wheat, cotton and oats, in the order named.) 

The general health of Wilton is good, as is indicated by the fact 
that there are in town about one hundred persons who are seventy 
years old or older. Number of deaths for year ending Dec. 3 1st, 
1888, 37, 

It is Sclid that the only married couples tiiat were present at the 
Centennial Celebration of 1839, and at the late celebration of 1889, 
were Mr. and Mis. David Whiting, Mr. and Mrs. Moses Lovejoy, 
Mr. and Mi s. W m. Emerson. 

Mr. Sewall Putnam, contributes the following interesting bit of 
history : 

" Rev. F. G. Clarli of Medford, Mass., a native of Lyndeborough, 
who gave the historical address at the 150th anniversary of the set- 
tlement of Lyndeborough, informed me that he learned from the 
Salem, Canada, records, that Nathaniel Putnam, (the father of Jacob, 
Archalaus, Ephraim and Nathaniel Putnam, early settlers in that part 
of Salem, Canada, that is now Wilton), was one of the proprietors of 
Salem, Canada, and in 1742 he built a saw mill on the brook near 
the meadow at the head of Barnes' Falls. The mill was two or three 
times rebuilt, and sucessively owned and occupied for one hundred 
and twenty-five years by Jacob Putnam ; his son, Archalaus Putnam, 
Abiel Wilson, Putnam Wilson, Oliver Whiting, and Aaron Barnes." 



ERRATA. 



On middle of page 10, for "SMiitney read Whiting. 
On page 18, tenth line from bottom for aspostle read apostle. 
On page 25, thirteenth line from top, for affords read afford. 
On page 35, eleventh line from top, for $106 read $100. 
On page 37, second line from bottom, for 1700 read 1790. 
On page 61, fourteenth line from bottom, for American read 
Ai'minian. 

On page 92, for Bnrns read Burns. 

On page 96, for Bonhuer read Bonheur. 

On page 99, eleventh line from bottom, for Pornitt read Porritt. 



INDEX 



PAGE. 

Abbot, Abiel, contribution 83 

Abbot, F. E., poem 45 

Afternoon, programiue for 60 

Antiquarian room 91 

Bales, G. E., address 75 

Band, Wilton Brass 99 

Brown, E., oration 17 

Burns, C. H., address. 12 

Business of town 103 

Chorus 99 

Churches 107 

Clark, F. G., address, 67 

Clark, Moses, address 9 

Collation 59 

Committee, executive 1 

Committee on music 99 

Committee on decorations 99 

Committee on reception 99 

Concert 96 

Decorations . , 7 

Everett House 101 

Industries of town 104 

Invocation, T. O. Harlow 11 

Lincoln, I. S • 59-87 

Livermore, A. A 11-61-83 

Liverrmoi'e, T. L 100 

Library, public 108 

ATarden, Geo. A , 63 

Morning, programme of 9 



115 

PAGE. 

Officers of day. 10 

Officers of town 102 

Parade 2 

Peabody, F. G 100 

Pendleton, A. M 81 

Pevey, F. M 7i) 

Proctor, D. E 69 

Professional men 107 

Putnaui, Sewall, contribution Ill 

Schools 108 

Societies 105 

Statistics 109 

Stewart,. S. B 100 

Whiting, G. 78 

Whiting, I. S 65 

Whiting, H. A 98 



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